can find about research at Sol City
University and any connection Liam may have had to Sleiman other than the fact
that his father works there.”
Noah ran a hand
through his hair. “I’ll head to the eastern sector where Liam’s body was found.
Someone must’ve seen or heard something.”
He stood as he said
to me, “We’ll let you know if we find anything.”
“I’m going, too.”
“What?”
“I’m going with you
to where they found Liam.”
“Zoe...”
“No. I might think of
something that helps.”
“It’s not a great
neighborhood. Could be dangerous.”
I reached for his
hand and weaved my fingers through his. “But I have you.”
I’d defaulted to my
base instinct. Use my looks and charm to my advantage. I’d once thought that
Noah was immune to me, but it seemed that might’ve changed.
His lips tugged up at
the corners, and he nodded okay.
A sudden fit of male
adolescent fake coughing ensued. Noah pulled his hand away from mine as Anthony
gave him a questioning look.
Chapter 15
The thing about
hanging out with guys is they’re always hungry. Noah insisted on a pit stop at
the food court before we headed out.
“Fine,” I said. “But
it’s my treat this time.”
“Sounds good. Lead
the way.”
We skirted out from
behind the church and crossed the courtyard to the food court.
“What do you want?” I
said. “Indian again?”
He shook his head. “Nah,
I’m up for a good ol’fashioned hamburger.”
We headed down the
steps to an underground area. I blinked as I adjusted to the bright artificial
lighting. I spotted the sandwich place and stood in line while Noah found an
empty table. I ordered a hamburger for Noah, and since I didn’t trust outside
meat, I stuck with fries.
I waved my palm over
the scanner to pay, and it only took a few minutes for our food to arrive. I
carried the tray over to Noah.
“This is great, Zoe,
thanks,” Noah said with a muffled half-full mouth.
The fries were good,
too. Crisp and salty.
“Can I ask you
something?” I said, after washing down the fries with a sip of coke.
“Shoot.”
“Why don’t you have a
chip?”
He swallowed and
wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t like needles.”
I scoffed. “That’s
it? You know they freeze the spot first. You don’t feel a thing.”
Noah shrugged.
“Your friends don’t
seem to have a problem with it,” I pressed.
“They’re braver than
me.”
“Noah, if there’s one
thing I’ve learned about you, it’s that you’re no coward. Come on, spill. Why
won’t you get a chip?”
He considered me
while he tossed a couple fries in his mouth.
“My father was a reverend.
A bible-believing Christian. The last book in the bible is called Revelations.
It supposedly tells us how the world is going to end.”
“And you believe it?”
Noah leaned back and
rubbed his full stomach. “I don’t know. I think so. My father did.”
I took a small bite
of my hamburger. “I still don’t get why you won’t get the chip?”
“There’s a passage in
Revelations that talks about a ‘beast’ that comes to deceive the world. This
beast works against God and everyone who follows him. In order to control the
people he makes them get a mark on their right hand or forehead. Without this
mark you can’t buy or sell.”
I pointed to my right
hand. “And you think this chip is that mark?”
“I told you, I don’t
know. I’m just not ready to take any chances.”
I tossed my crumpled
napkin on my tray and pushed it away. “Fair enough.”
“What else do you
know about where Liam was found?” Noah said. Clearly, he wanted a change of
subject.
“Paul was pretty
tight-lipped about the details. Outside of the location, all I got out of him
was that he was found by some kid.”
“Then, I guess we’d
better go find that kid.”
We cleared off the
table, separating the recyclable items from the trash, and depositing everything
in the appropriate
University and any connection Liam may have had to Sleiman other than the fact
that his father works there.”
Noah ran a hand
through his hair. “I’ll head to the eastern sector where Liam’s body was found.
Someone must’ve seen or heard something.”
He stood as he said
to me, “We’ll let you know if we find anything.”
“I’m going, too.”
“What?”
“I’m going with you
to where they found Liam.”
“Zoe...”
“No. I might think of
something that helps.”
“It’s not a great
neighborhood. Could be dangerous.”
I reached for his
hand and weaved my fingers through his. “But I have you.”
I’d defaulted to my
base instinct. Use my looks and charm to my advantage. I’d once thought that
Noah was immune to me, but it seemed that might’ve changed.
His lips tugged up at
the corners, and he nodded okay.
A sudden fit of male
adolescent fake coughing ensued. Noah pulled his hand away from mine as Anthony
gave him a questioning look.
Chapter 15
The thing about
hanging out with guys is they’re always hungry. Noah insisted on a pit stop at
the food court before we headed out.
“Fine,” I said. “But
it’s my treat this time.”
“Sounds good. Lead
the way.”
We skirted out from
behind the church and crossed the courtyard to the food court.
“What do you want?” I
said. “Indian again?”
He shook his head. “Nah,
I’m up for a good ol’fashioned hamburger.”
We headed down the
steps to an underground area. I blinked as I adjusted to the bright artificial
lighting. I spotted the sandwich place and stood in line while Noah found an
empty table. I ordered a hamburger for Noah, and since I didn’t trust outside
meat, I stuck with fries.
I waved my palm over
the scanner to pay, and it only took a few minutes for our food to arrive. I
carried the tray over to Noah.
“This is great, Zoe,
thanks,” Noah said with a muffled half-full mouth.
The fries were good,
too. Crisp and salty.
“Can I ask you
something?” I said, after washing down the fries with a sip of coke.
“Shoot.”
“Why don’t you have a
chip?”
He swallowed and
wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t like needles.”
I scoffed. “That’s
it? You know they freeze the spot first. You don’t feel a thing.”
Noah shrugged.
“Your friends don’t
seem to have a problem with it,” I pressed.
“They’re braver than
me.”
“Noah, if there’s one
thing I’ve learned about you, it’s that you’re no coward. Come on, spill. Why
won’t you get a chip?”
He considered me
while he tossed a couple fries in his mouth.
“My father was a reverend.
A bible-believing Christian. The last book in the bible is called Revelations.
It supposedly tells us how the world is going to end.”
“And you believe it?”
Noah leaned back and
rubbed his full stomach. “I don’t know. I think so. My father did.”
I took a small bite
of my hamburger. “I still don’t get why you won’t get the chip?”
“There’s a passage in
Revelations that talks about a ‘beast’ that comes to deceive the world. This
beast works against God and everyone who follows him. In order to control the
people he makes them get a mark on their right hand or forehead. Without this
mark you can’t buy or sell.”
I pointed to my right
hand. “And you think this chip is that mark?”
“I told you, I don’t
know. I’m just not ready to take any chances.”
I tossed my crumpled
napkin on my tray and pushed it away. “Fair enough.”
“What else do you
know about where Liam was found?” Noah said. Clearly, he wanted a change of
subject.
“Paul was pretty
tight-lipped about the details. Outside of the location, all I got out of him
was that he was found by some kid.”
“Then, I guess we’d
better go find that kid.”
We cleared off the
table, separating the recyclable items from the trash, and depositing everything
in the appropriate
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