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“Here we go,” she said. “Are you ready?”

“I’m ready.”

She glanced down at the paper in front of her. “Attack.”

“Hackers,” I responded.

“Problem.”

“Solve.”

“Lead.”

“Myself.”

She paused, giving me a moment. Or maybe there was another reason she paused. I didn’t have time to wonder because she said, “Mother.”

“Protect.” It slipped out. I hadn’t expected that to come out of my mouth, but there it was.

“Beware.”

“Liars.”

“Alone.”

“Safe.”

“Friends.”

That one was easy for me. “White Knights.”

“Government.”

“Secrets.”

The was another slight hesitation before she said, “Father.”

I fell silent and stared at the table. It was as if my brain had abruptly clicked off.

After a moment, she repeated the word. “Father.”

I blinked, then looked at her. “Alive.”

Chapter Nineteen

ANGEL SINCLAIR

The rest of my day involved digital fingerprinting, a quick lunch, a private tutoring session in cryptology—the highlight of the day—then a medical examination by a nice female doctor, a chemistry class with Mike, an English literature class with Hala, Wally, and Kira, and a physical fitness exam with a buff military-looking guy. By the time it was over, I was a hot mess.

When I got back to the dorm room, Frankie and Hala were already there. Frankie was lying on the bed with a washcloth on her forehead. Hala was working on a laptop at her desk. Kira was nowhere to be seen, as usual.

“Hey, guys,” I said, perching on the corner of Frankie’s mattress. “Everyone okay?”

Frankie lifted the washcloth off her face. “I’m alive, but the physical fitness exam nearly killed me. Did you have to run the mile?”

I nodded. “I did. Don’t ask me how long it took.”

“As long as you don’t ask me. Hala, how did you do?”