Chapter 31
“Shannon Evans is alive,” Jill said. “She and her parents got in trouble with the Samarins and faked their own deaths to get away. They are hiding out in Rio--”
“Stop,” Annika said, holding up her hand. They were in the back of her limo. The sound-proof screen separating them from the driver was pulled closed. They were leaving the mansion and turning East on Country Road 6, headed for the highway.
“You asked me to tell you what I know.”
“I meant, tell me why you think the immortals know about Shannon. Tell me why you said they are going to kill us both when we get there.”
“I hacked into a government database and used facial recognition software to search for Shannon. It took only a minute to find her. Whoever forged her identity did a piss-poor job of it. The immortals would have found her in a few hours, max.”
“So you’re just assuming they know where she is. You don’t actually have any proof.”
“The proof is that I did it. The proof is, I was able to find her in just a few minutes and I’m a seventeen-year-old girl using personal computing equipment. The immortals have a thousand times as much computing power as me and they have full-time staff who spend their days looking for fugitives like the Evans family. Shannon’s face showed up right away. She’s got a fake ID under the name Isabella--”
“Quiet!” Annika yelled. “I’m not supposed to know the name she’s using, in case the immortals question me about it.”
“They don’t need to question you, Annika. They know exactly where she is. The only reason they haven’t pounced is they want to see what she and her parents do when they think they are safe. They’re watching Shannon’s every move, especially what she does online. They know all about your secret email relationship. They’ve read everything you sent.”
Annika crouched against the wall and looked out the window, as if her enemies were looking in on them right now.
“We tried to be careful,” she said.
“It’s not your fault,” said Jill. “Shannon’s parents didn’t know what they were doing. Whoever they contacted to get them phony identities was an amateur.”
“Can you help her get someplace safe?”
“I can, but the minute she disappears, the immortals will come after you. We’re going to need the Evans family to stay put until we can get you out too. When the time comes, we’ll hide all of you at once. For now, what’s important is that you and Shannon don’t say or do anything stupid. They’re reading your emails. We’ve got to make sure you’re saying what we want them to hear.”
“Who’s we?” Annika asked.
We? Instantly, Jill realized she was being careless with her language, saying ‘we’ in reference to the Network, talking with Annika as if she were already in the fold. Eventually, Annika would know more. She would have to if they were going to get her out. But not until Jill knew she could trust her.
“I told you,” said Jill. “There’s a whole group of us working together on this. I have contacts who will do whatever is necessary to ensure Nicky wins Coronation this year, and right now, what is necessary is getting you and your friends to Nicky’s after-party.”
“So that’s the deal, isn’t it?” said Annika. “You don’t help me until I help you.”
“That’s the deal, Annika,” said Jill.
“It’s so late. We’re already on the road. Everyone’s going to Kim’s. I don’t even know what I’d say to them at this point.”
“I’ve taken the liberty of writing something up for you,” said Jill. “Pull up your phone. I skipped out of the mansion near the end of the dance and went to my limo. I sent you a text. Read it.”
Annika opened a compartment in the arm rest and retrieved her phone. She pulled up the text from Jill. It took her a few seconds to read it.
“You think this will work?” she asked.
“Yes, I do,” said Jill. “It’s coming from you. They’ll all listen. Forward it to everyone, and get ready to take their calls.”