Page 18 (1/2)

I plop down on the end offor the local news When I find it, I can’t do anything but stare at the black-haired woman as she stands outside the area where ‘ten bodies were found shot to death earlier this ’, and the rest of what she says fades into the back of my mind It hurts to think about Lydia, the horrible way that she died It hurts knowing that I couldn’t help her like I prorandparents will soon know about her death and that they will be heartbroken

The only good that I get out of this newscast is knowing that Lydia’s body was found, that it wasn’t left out there to decay and turn to dust never to be identified

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Victor

The girl is asleep when I get out of the shower I turn off the lights in the roo at the side of her bed She’s curled in the fetal position with one pillow crushed against her chest She’s filthy and could’ve used a shower herself, but was exhausted by all that has happened

I study the way her long, auburn hair, although disheveled, outlines the contours of her face She appears peaceful lying there, innocent Despite exhaustion, after all that she has been through I find it interesting that she can sleep at all

I’et her some new clothes and shoes soon

Carefully, I pull the bedspread over her body and leave her to her deep sleep, sitting down at the table on the other side of the roo her around like this I know that I should have left her at the trailer park and waited for Javier to come for her--because surely that is one of the first places he’ll look--make it easier on myself to eliminate him But I feel like I owe it to her to keep her alive At least for now At least until Javier Ruiz is dead She has seen toolost the ability to react to fear and danger appropriately She is nuer and that in itself is a death sentence

Once this is over with, I will set her out on her own again Perhaps she will find her way, though her chances are slim But it is a risk that I er; the life I lead will only get her killed

I h a live video feed ononly one ear bud in my ear so that I can control the volu with him

"She is still with you?" Niklas asks, incredulous

I did not expect anything less of hiet rid of her once I eliminate Javier Ruiz," I say "For now, I need her close-by I cannot chase Javier if he’sher as bait?" He appears lance over at Sarai toback, but instantly feel as though I aprotocol for the sake of a successful mission, I am known for Over time my decisions based purely on instinct have been accepted and respected by Vonnegut Because I have never been wrong But breaking protocol by outright deceiving the Order is new territory forit

"Good," Niklas says "Onto matters Last knohereabouts of Ruiz was just outside of Nogales He had trouble crossing the border into Arizona, but was finally granted permission once his insiders planted in border patrol arrived to see hih We believe he is on his way to Tucson, if he isn’t there already"

Niklas adds, "What is your next ut has all but passed off the reins of this mission completely onto you All that he asks for are updates And as you can understand I’ to conclude Javier should have been eliminated yesterday and you should be on a plane to your next ht more hours at thein answer

"I will take the girl with o on "Inform Safe House Twelve of my arrival"

"Why Twelve?" Niklas looks at me warily "You always choose Safe House Nine Twelve is not your…shall I say type?"

"I a there for that," I tell him

He believes that, but I can sense that he doesn’t particularly agree with it

So is different about my brother as my liaison and o to Houston at all?" he asks, seely irritated with my decisions entirely "You could wait for him to co this out?" Anger and frustration rises up in his voice

"I’irl there to keep her safe," I say and there’s h question in his face to show that he is beside hi So, for the sake of my relationship with my brother, I add, "Niklas, it is only temporary, I assure you You rees with suppressed suspicion "I will alert Safe House Twelve of your arrival She will be waiting for you"

And then the video feed goes dead

I runinto the syste series of co the device clean of all evidence of correspondence and then crashing the system afterwards I walk quietly past Sarai and take the iPad into the bathroo what’s left of the alcohol from before And then I drop the device into the back of the toilet

I crawl into the bed by theand lay onin the darkness

"He doesn’t like ed to pretend to be sleeping withouttoo unfocused because of her?

"No, he does not," I ansithout looking at her

"But you do?"