“They hurt,” I admit. “Can you take my bag?”
She nods and holds out her hand. She’s grown up.
At least, I think she has. She’s also become more serious. She doesn’t smile as much; I hate that she doesn’t laugh as much. She has an infectious laugh. It’s more of a cackle, to be honest. When she really gets going, I can’t help but laugh with her.
“You look sad,” I say as she throws my bag over her shoulder.
“You should have told a teacher.”
“What if they separate us?” I say the fear out loud, and she freezes, her eyes wide. “See, that’s why I couldn’t tell.”
She reaches out her pinkie finger. “Pinkie promise you won’t leave me?”
I wrap my pinkie around hers as all our friends and peers run around us. “I, Owen King, pinkie promise to never leave Lucy Cook. It’s you and me, Cookie.”
“Us against the world.”
“Us against the world.” I nod in agreement.
We carry on walking, and she deflates even further when her eyes fall on James who is waiting by the gate. He’s laughing with another parent like he hasn’t beaten the shit out of me the night before.
I don’t understand grown-ups.
15
Kara - Present
Owenissittingbackat the counter and I’m making us cheese on toast. He’s taking bites of the Mars Bar.
“Start at the beginning,” I say over my shoulder as I bend over the oven, sprinkling the cheese onto the toast. I push the tray back in and lean forward on the other side of the counter.
“Tell me about how you became involved with the Covenant,” I continue.
“I’m not,” he answers. “Not officially, anyway.”
“Go on.”
“I am however, acquainted with Luca Knight. And five days ago, I received a package from him.”
And here’s me thinking I buried Luca Knight.
Well, kinda.
Faking someone’s death isn’t easy, and he really took a risk sending anything.
I push back off the counter keeping an eye on the food.
“What package?”
I place the tray down on the metal pan holder and glance at Owen.
“A note, with an external hard drive that contains information that is dangerous to those in power.” Owen moves, heads into the kitchen, opening cupboards. Looking for ketchup, I’m sure. Owen has ketchup with everything.
“Left cupboard next to the fridge.”
He grabs it. “For a safe flat, this is well stocked.”
“Always be prepared,” I reply, placing our cheese on toast on the plates. “So, what’s on this hard drive, specifics?”
