like it was held together by grime and bad intentions. The neon si

? the driver asked, eyeing a group

aid, handing him anot

ole. But it was cash-only, and

ale smoke and bleach. Annelise paid for a room o

wo sagging double beds and

omatically. It was a game they pl

nected the coaxial cable. "No smart devices," he muttered. He check

dle. He took a glass cup from the bathroom and balanced it on t

ecure, Blac

anitizer she made herself and started spraying the

e bed, her head in her hands.

Logically, based on his intense reaction and a preliminary facial struc

. "No, Algy. That's a coincidence," she said firmly. "Your biological fath

g us? Blace asked, his voic

tingly, the name leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. "The Sa

ave to hide from him? Clemie ask

nds out I had children right around the time our marriage ended, he will view it as a betrayal, a stain on his reputation. He won't ca

e vowed, punching his

e floor with his tablet. "I am accessing the local Wi-Fi

d him work. "Be

his brow furrowing. "

h

t out for a woman and three children on The Sanders Group's corporate net

l. "He's using his o

query, routed from inside that network to a much older, private server. The enc

Sanders Family Trust's private server. It's not conn

ashed in Annelise's mind. The thought of the old patriarch having a

it? she

m. It's a standing order to flag and report on 'children with exceptional cognitive or kinetic abilities'

said. "Turn it all off

s of sirens wailed ou

ke puppies. Annelise sat in the chair by the window,

e number she had. The man who had helped them

thouse of Sanders Tower, Archib

o said. "Dropped off in Qu

up. "Get the t

it's

d buttoned his black c

elise's eyes were heav

he hea

in

the doorknob and sh

bolted

It was just a test. So

stantly, sliding off

nelise

window