My face goes red. “That’s why you were at the school?”
“Of course.” He sits at the flimsy card table and motions for us to do the same. “Let’s talk, ladies. That’s all I’m asking.”
Mom takes her seat again, looking like she has no idea what’s going on. I sit next to her, nervous and curious myself. “You wanna talk?” Mom says. “Fine. Talk.”
“I will make this very simple, Lauren,” The Phantom says. “Juan’s been watching you for a couple months now, so don’t think he doesn’t know why you’re here.”
“And why is that?” Mom asks without a hint of anything but indifference. I, on the other hand, am kind of disturbed about the idea of Juan keeping tabs on us for that long. But maybe I should consider us lucky that he didn’t pick up on it sooner.
The Phantom’s eyes narrow. “You know why.”
Mom shrugs. “Do I?”
I don’t think he can tell, but it’s clear to me that Mom’s baiting for information. Because obviously we don’t know what he’s thinking about us living here, but I get the sense it’s different from the truth.
“Let’s not play games. Every syndicate has this information, thanks to an assassination in China that has you O’Connells written all over it.”
I stifle a gasp. So Dad really went through with his mission to find the real Radiasure formula. Who did he send instead? Maybe I don’t want to know, because they’re probably dead. I hope they are, because it’d be worse if they were captured by another syndicate.
Mom raises an eyebrow, seeming just as surprised by this information as I am. “Looks like you do know everything.”
“Yup,” I add, because this works in our favor—obviously Juan doesn’t know we’re not working for Dad anymore. They must think we’re here to make Radiasure just like they are.
“So here’s how it’ll work.” The Phantom reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a slick black card. When the lights hit it, an image of a jaguar gleams back. “The Torres syndicate is willing to overlook your trespassing under one condition. If you agree—I get to give you three million dollars.”
Mom purses her lips. “Must be one hell of a condition.”
“All Juan asks is that you do nothing.” The Phantom puts the card on the table and slides it over. “You can do that, right?”
“You want us to ignore our orders? That’s it?” she asks.
He nods.
There has to be some kind of catch, though at the same time it does make sense. Juan wants to produce Radiasure first. Whoever does will clearly have the advantage. If we do nothing, that’s one less syndicate to worry about meddling. Except we’re not actually working for Dad…I frown, realizing there’s a bigger issue here.
“We do nothing, and you can promise our safety as long as we’re in your territory?” Mom asks.
“Of course.” The Phantom’s dark eyes gleam with anticipation. “What’s your answer?”
“We’ll do nothing, but you can have this back.” To my surprise, Mom slides the card to him. “Safety is enough. I don’t want to owe Juan anything.”
The Phantom takes it in his spindly hands. “You’re smarter than you look.”
“Don’t forget it.” Mom stands, and I follow her outside. I’m about to head back to Seth’s car when she bursts out laughing. Then she leans in to say, “Well, that was easy enough—we don’t even have orders to ignore! Looks like as long as we lie low we can sail past this mess scot-free.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, my mind reeling. Maybe we’re safer from Juan than I thought we could be, but I can’t escape one thought: Dad hasn’t sent a crew here to search the area. What could he be doing that is more important to him than reproducing Radiasure?
Chapter 9
At least Movie Night hasn’t changed much. Bea’s dad still makes amazing burgers. Her mom still prepares a spread of toppings. And of course there’s always fighting over which movie to watch. But her older brothers Joey and Tony haven’t come for a month because of demanding college classes. Plus, Bea and Brady are usually so distracted with each other they forget to protect me from Carlos.
“So, Fiona,” Carlos says as he sits next to me at the picnic table. I glare at Bea, who is giggling and flirting with Brady by the condiments. So much for backup. “How do you feel about polyamorous relationships?”
“I didn’t realize you knew such big words,” I reply.
Hector makes a sizzling sound. “Nice burn, Fi.”
“She’s avoiding the question,” Carlos says.
Seth pulls me closer. “Stop asking my girlfriend inappropriate stuff. We’re together, and that’s not about to change.”
“Plus I’m not interested in you.” I bite into my burger, which is filled with peppers and avocado and cheese.
The guys laugh, though Carlos does look a little hurt by the news. I almost feel bad, but I’ve learned the boy can’t take a hint or even a direct statement. Why he’s decided to fixate on me of all people I’ll never know.
“You need to move on, dude,” Hector says through a huge bite of burger, complete with barbecue sauce on his face. “There are tons more invisible girls out there for you to terrorize.”
I snort. “If only.”
After dinner, we spread blankets on the grass, set up the projector, and pick a movie. By the time we get everything ready it’s dark, thanks to the short winter days. Though it’s not freezing, it’s definitely cold enough that we huddle under blankets and drink cocoa.
Bea hops up as the opening credits begin, pulling out the one device I hate more than anything—a camera. “Smile, everyone!”
The camera flashes. I didn’t smile or even look at it, not like anyone will be able to tell. She takes a few more, and I have to restrain myself from yelling at her to stop. I know this is what normal people do, but I hate looking at my missing face next to everyone else.
Seth nudges me. “Is it really so bad?”
I’m not sure how to answer that when we’re surrounded by people who don’t know he can see me. It’s not like I can get into a lengthy discussion about how hollow and stupid those pictures make me feel. “Yeah, it is.”
“I’m sorry, Fi.” He puts his arm around me, and I try to concentrate on the movie. But Bea and Brady are laughing while they take pictures together, and envy flares inside me like a hot coal. I know they aren’t, and yet it feels like they’re rubbing their visibility in my face. Seth squeezes my shoulder. “Should I ask for the camera next? Seems like you’re distracted by it.”
“Why bother?” It sounds harsher than I intended. “It’ll just be you and some floating clothes.”
He frowns. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Everything.” Sometimes I hate that there are things I will never experience like other people. They are often tiny. They probably shouldn’t matter. But times like these make me feel inhuman.
“Fi.” He leans in so he can whisper right in my ear. I still worry Hector could hear. “There is nothing wrong with being invisible.”
He’s trying to comfort me, but I can’t help but be a little angry. “Easy for you to say, being visible and all.”
Seth sighs. “You’re determined to let this bother you. Even after everything.”
By “everything” I assume he means the fact that he’s told me what I look like, but he can’t say that with Hector so near. “I don’t want it to bother me—sorry I can’t figure out how to stop wanting to see myself.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but a loud whooping sound cuts him off. I look up to the open sky, searching for whatever made the noise. That’s when I see the dark mass in the air. My first thought is that either the Army or The Phantom brought a flier to Madison, but then I catch the distinct scent of blueberries.