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“I just don’t understand why we can’t call the police. That remains a perfectly acceptable option in my book.”

“My dad said she won’t come home if I do. It’s not my mom they want, it’s my dad. But the moment he turns himself over to them, they’ll have no use for her. They’ll…kill her, and possibly my dad, too.”

Jax blew out a frustrated breath. “Who isthem?”

“I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me. Not over the phone, anyway.”

Jax pushed a hand through his dark hair, letting it rest on the back of his neck. “Let me get this straight. You haven’t interacted with your dad in fourteen years, and suddenly you’re all about trust with him? Think hard about this, Angel. This is your mom’s life we’re talking about, not to mention yours. I just want to make sure you’re one hundred percent sure about this.”

I looked at it from his point of view and knew if I were in his shoes, I’d be saying the same thing to him. “Jax, I’m sure. My gut is telling me that the man who called me is my dad.”

He fell silent after that, brooding. We walked along the sidewalk, letting Mr. Toodles do his business as he frolicked in the grass after his lengthy captivity. The November sun felt warm on my head, but I thought I might be sick at any moment. I wasn’t even sure how I was holding it together at this point.

“Okay, then what’s the plan?”

I just stared at him. “That’s it? No more arguing?”

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t looked so shocked. You believe it was your dad, and what he said was legit, so I believe you. You asked me to trust you. I do. So, what’s next?”

His support meant a lot to me, even as I worried about him knowing too much. I tried to settle my frayed nerves and think clearly. “We go back to my mom’s apartment and clean up. I’ll make some calls to the local hospitals, and when I find nothing, I’ll tell you that we need to get back to UTOP to pick up my stuff. I’ll say that when I return here later tonight, I’ll call around to some of her friends to see if they know where she’s gone. I’ll pretend not to be too worried about it. I know my mom can take care of herself. Then, secretly, I’ll wait for my dad to send the riddle. I’ll have twenty-four hours to solve it and meet him without being followed. Hopefully, he’ll have a plan to rescue my mom.”

“Why did he call and text on my phone?”

“He says my phone is being monitored. My computer, too, but I already figured that.”

He shook his head. “I’m not going to ask how he got my cell phone information or how he knew I drove you to your mom’s apartment.”

“It’s clear we’re being watched by different people. And, although I probably don’t have to tell you this, I’m not sure how safe your phone will be after this.”

“Great.” He let out a sigh. “Well, if you’re set on solving this riddle and meeting your dad, we’d better assemble the team.”

I glanced at him in alarm. “The team?”

“Yes, the team.” He gave me an exasperated look. “You really thought you were going to go this alone?”

“I don’t want to drag anyone else into this. It could be dangerous.”

“Wow. Now you’re being insulting. We’re in spy school, remember? This is what we’re training for.”

“I know, but we haven’t been officially trained yet, and these people are dangerous. They tried to kidnap me, theysucceededin kidnapping my mom, and whatever they did to my dad, it caused him to disappear for fourteen years.”

“Then I guess we’ll just have to be careful. We’re a unit, remember? All eight of us. You have to bringeveryonein to help.”

“I know we’re a unit, but…”

“No buts,” Jax said firmly. “We stick together.”

Fear for my mom, my friends, and myself tugged me in different directions. “My dad said I have to keep it quiet.”

“No problem.” He spread his hands. “Spies in training, remember? We get it. Secrecy is what we do.”

“But…what if I can’t figure out the riddle, or I can, but I can’t get to my dad because I’m being followed? Or what if someone gets hurt?”

“Which is exactly why you need us. Think about it. We’ll be taking the same risks in a couple of years anyway, as soon as we graduate. We’ll figure a way to get you to your meeting without anyone following you. It’s what we’re learning in Detection and Surveillance.”

“Right. And after four classes, we’re going to outwit the professionals.”

“That sounds like a challenge I’m up to taking.”