He smiles a little bigger and my stomach turns. “I’m not sure easy is the word. Let’s just say I’ve spent a number of years preparing for this day. In the end, it should be a smooth transition.”
He walks to the dresser on the far wall and peeks in each drawer there. When he goes into the bathroom, I slide off the other side of the bed and crawl to a set of drawers he’s already checked. Slipping the gun inside, I pray he won’t check this area twice.
I make it back in the bed and under the covers just as he comes out of the bathroom.
“Get up.”
“Why?” I ask, hoping my voice sounds confused. “What are you looking for?”
He doesn’t answer, just motions for me to get out of the bed.
Once I’m out, he throws back the covers and searches the bed, the pillows, and even underneath.
“You aren’t worried about Mateo being there?” Even knowing what I do, this plan is dangerous but I’m hoping to distract him.
“No. Mateo is an amateur. I will kill Señor Vega. And Mateo. And anyone else in the room.” He shoots a glance in my direction. He’s come up empty and I try not to smile. “Stay here until I come get you. I’ll have Tyler bring you some food.”
And then he’s gone.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
Know when to call in reinforcements.
New rule by Anna Boyd:
Never involve innocent people if you can help it. Just because you’re fighting for your life doesn’t mean they should have to as well. Plus, it’s just rude.
second Thomas leaves the room, I hop out of bed. I could tell he didn’t want to leave without finding the gun, but unless he was going to come out and ask me about it, there wasn’t much left he could do.
I’ve got a few hours to get control of what’s happening or I could very well be dead. I think he fully intends for me to get caught in the cross fire. I will be nothing but a loose end at that point.
And then he’ll go after Ethan and Teeny.
First, I need to find the tracker. I grab every single item I brought with me from Ursuline and throw it into a heap on the floor. Starting with my clothes, I inspect every inch of them, paying close attention to the thicker areas like collars and pockets.
Nothing.
I grab my tennis shoes. They are the only shoes I’ve had since the island. Taking the soles out, I dig around the inside of the shoe until my finger runs across a hard part in the toe of the left one. It takes forever to get it out but once I do, I know I’ve found it.
It’s small, not even as big as the tip of my pinkie finger, and looks almost like a button battery.
So this is how Mateo followed us to that souvenir shop. This is how Thomas has known every single thing we’ve done since we left the convent.
I stare at the tiny thing in my hand. What to do with it? For now, I’m going to keep it on me so I don’t alert him as to what I know, but at some point I’ll have to figure out the perfect way for it to help me disappear.
Thomas is sending Tyler away but I’ve got to get to him first.
I checked the doors in my room and they’re not locked. That doesn’t mean I can make it out of this compound, though—there are still the double wooden doors that lead to the street and the small door Mateo came through the night before. I’m not sure if there’s any other way out of here.
I need to find Tyler.
I retrace the steps that lead me downstairs. Searching the rooms I’ve found him in before, I come up empty. I don’t know where he sleeps in this place but that doesn’t stop me from looking.
The fifth door I open is a jackpot. Tyler is there, throwing clothes in a bag, and doesn’t seem very happy about it.
He looks up when I open the door and I say, “You can’t leave.”
