was smart. Too smart for a five-ye

math in his head faster than kids with calculators. He could remember every s

lex was the on

r, and the children were supposed to be watching cartoons. But Alex

he flight. Alex was just curious. He liked look

and wrinkled. Documents from the hospital in the M

e words. He couldn't read every

er: Un

r: Moll

: [exact date f

ers, there was a name written in pen. Handwriting that look

n And

Come here!" A

king her thumb, which meant she was still sleepy. Be

it?" Be

he had a way of speaking like he was much older. "Mom's never told us who our fa

ead the name out lo

Claudia asked, pulling h

said simply. "Mom just d

ey didn't know it yet, but they had just st

-

o their small rented apartment in Nort

r's computer when

and results came up immediately. There were hundreds of Sea

n Industries. One of the rich

es. He was wearing a suit that probably cost more money than Molly made i

and Claudia, who stood on either sid

mean," Cla

d, which was more import

e picture, you could see pieces of all three children in that man's face. The

Then he deleted the search histo

id. It wasn't a suggestion. It

to strangers," Claudia sai

our father. And I think he doesn't know

be he'll want to meet us

x said, always thinking three steps ahead. "But we need to

asleep, the three children wh

ind him?" Cl

wntown," Alex said. "It's in the business

," Ben said. "We're too smal

t. Then he said, "We'll fi

first, they had to get to his of

-

had to work late. She dropped them off at an aft

said. "I'll pic

ared around the corner, Al

s busy with other kids, then they slipped out the back doo

he sky. The children had to walk for twenty minutes to find the Anderson Buildi

lex said. "We'r

tallest building on the street. Glass and steel and shiny and importan

" Claudia

breath. "We go in

dren surrounded by tall adults in expensive clothes. No one pa

the button for the top floor. When the doors cl

x said. "And at least

climbed highe

hree children stepped out into the office of thei