Page 157 of On Edge

“…wants to talk…”

Through lip reading, I gather parts of the conversation between them, but then Troy slings the satchel over his shoulder and turns to face Mundel, and the rest is muffled.

I caught the gist of it, though.

Found her.

My chest tightens until I can’t breathe.

Troy turns and sweeps his gaze over the road toward where our car is parked across the road, and our eyes seem to meet. For a second, I think he’s going to come over, going to explain what’s happening, who Mundel has found.

But his gaze sweeps past without a flicker of recognition.

He can’t see me through the tinted windows. That and the lights are off.

Troy thinks I’ve already left.

As Troy gets in the black car, Mundel slides into the driver’s seat, then they pull away, going in the opposite direction from the hotel.

“Miss Lovett?” The driver’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. “Shall I take you to your hotel now?”

But my mind is choked with questions.

Found who?

“Where is he going?” I ask the driver; Pete, Troy called him.

“I’m not at liberty to say, miss.” His tone is politely professional. “Should we head back to the hotel?”

But I’m barely listening.

Because I remember…Troy has been looking for someone. For awoman.

And now it seems they’ve found her.

“Then follow him.”

Pete meets my eyes in the mirror. “Miss Lovett. Mr. Severin said?—”

“I’m not asking.” My voice is firm now. “Mr. Severin said to take me where I want to go, and I want to follow him.”

I need to know if my sister is alive. If everything I know is a lie. And if Troy has been using me to get to her this whole time.

“If Mr. Severin sees I could lose my job?—”

“He won’t.”

Pete’s jaw tightens. But he nods and puts the car in gear.

We follow at a distance, through London’s rain-slicked streets, past closed shops and empty parks.

The black SUV pulls up outside a nondescript building. It looks like an office complex. Or apartments.

Pete pulls up too, in the side street next to the building, close enough that, even with the rain falling, I see Troy get out of the car while Mundel goes up to the front entrance and disappears inside. A few moments later, Mundel appears, holding an umbrella over someone.

Then I see her, with Mundel, walking towards the car.

Even in the rain, her light brown hair catches the streetlight as she moves toward Troy.