my feelings to never see Emma and the minions again, I’m sick of starting over and I want out for good. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m not ready to leave Ethan behind.
I’ve never had one of the suits be so nice to me before. They’re usually very distant and say the least amount as possible. Maybe I can get him to talk.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t remember your name.”
“Agent Thomas.”
“Oh, it’s you. We talked on the phone.”
—S
He nods and sips his coffee.
—N
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“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, but I might not be able to answer it.”
I take a minute, hoping to phrase it just right. “Why won’t anyone talk to me about what happened? It’s not fair that Teeny and I have to suffer through this without knowing why.”
I sound like a whiny baby but I can’t help it. Maybe this is why most of the suits treat me like I’m seven, not seventeen.
“Well, from what I understand, your parents are trying to pro-
tect you. I haven’t been with the agency long but I do know you don’t get offered protection unless the situation is dire. Your parents are coping the best way they know how and I’m sure when the time is right, they’ll answer all your questions.”
“I guess it gets old having to move people around all the time.
Making them start over, again and again.”
He laughs and says, “Only when I have to chase down kids who
skip school.”
I lean forward, elbows on the table, chin propped up in my hand.
“So, there’s no way to talk you into telling me what’s going on. Or why we have to move every month or so? Can you tell me that?”
“I wish I could, Meg, but I can’t.”
I’m frustrated now and I hope it shows. “Okay, what would hap-
pen if I decide to go home? Tell my parents to screw off, take Mary and go live with one of my old friends?”
Agent Thomas comes close and whispers, “I would not recom-
mend that. You may not understand who or what you are being
protected from but I promise you, it’s nothing you want to deal with S—
on your own.”
N—
“I just want some answers.”
88
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ELSTON—Rules for DisappearinG_2ND PASS
“I’m sure if you think hard enough, you can figure some of
it out.”
Thanks for the cryptic answer. Agent Thomas puts some money
on the table for the bill. “Let me give you a ride home. School’s almost out and you have work soon.”
It totally creeps me out when the suits do this. They seem to
know every little thing that goes on yet we never see them. I wonder if he’s the one that got Mom booze in the safe house.
“I’ll walk. I have some time.” I get up and grab my go-bag.
Before I can leave, Agent Thomas puts his hand on my bag. “I
know it’s tempting.” He nods toward the computers. “But don’t do it. You have no idea who is watching.”
I jerk my bag out of his hand and storm out of the coffee shop.
—S
—N
89
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ELSTON—Rules for DisappearinG_2ND PASS
RULES FOR DISAPPEARING
BY WITNESS PROTECTION PRISONER #18A7R04M:
Don’t fall into a routine. Shake things up. Doing the same thing over and over makes you feel comfortable. And feeling comfortable is bad.
Wednesdaysat the restaurant are busy. Pearl says it’s
all those Bible-beaters eating early before church. I haven’t stopped moving since I walked in at four, but I can’t get Agent Thomas off my mind. When I got home from the coffee shop, I searched
through my bag looking for some sort of tracker or bug or something. I hadn’t been in that coffeehouse long and it’s freaking me out how fast he found me.
Ethan had the nerve to show up around six. His boots and jeans were covered in mud again, so I figured he’d been at the farm. He and Teeny have been in the kitchen ever since. Every time I hear them laugh, it pisses me off. He can’t accuse
I’ve never had one of the suits be so nice to me before. They’re usually very distant and say the least amount as possible. Maybe I can get him to talk.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t remember your name.”
“Agent Thomas.”
“Oh, it’s you. We talked on the phone.”
—S
He nods and sips his coffee.
—N
87
DISNEY/HYPERION 5½ in. x 8¼ in. Page 87
ELSTON—Rules for DisappearinG_2ND PASS
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, but I might not be able to answer it.”
I take a minute, hoping to phrase it just right. “Why won’t anyone talk to me about what happened? It’s not fair that Teeny and I have to suffer through this without knowing why.”
I sound like a whiny baby but I can’t help it. Maybe this is why most of the suits treat me like I’m seven, not seventeen.
“Well, from what I understand, your parents are trying to pro-
tect you. I haven’t been with the agency long but I do know you don’t get offered protection unless the situation is dire. Your parents are coping the best way they know how and I’m sure when the time is right, they’ll answer all your questions.”
“I guess it gets old having to move people around all the time.
Making them start over, again and again.”
He laughs and says, “Only when I have to chase down kids who
skip school.”
I lean forward, elbows on the table, chin propped up in my hand.
“So, there’s no way to talk you into telling me what’s going on. Or why we have to move every month or so? Can you tell me that?”
“I wish I could, Meg, but I can’t.”
I’m frustrated now and I hope it shows. “Okay, what would hap-
pen if I decide to go home? Tell my parents to screw off, take Mary and go live with one of my old friends?”
Agent Thomas comes close and whispers, “I would not recom-
mend that. You may not understand who or what you are being
protected from but I promise you, it’s nothing you want to deal with S—
on your own.”
N—
“I just want some answers.”
88
DISNEY/HYPERION 5½ in. x 8¼ in. Page 88
ELSTON—Rules for DisappearinG_2ND PASS
“I’m sure if you think hard enough, you can figure some of
it out.”
Thanks for the cryptic answer. Agent Thomas puts some money
on the table for the bill. “Let me give you a ride home. School’s almost out and you have work soon.”
It totally creeps me out when the suits do this. They seem to
know every little thing that goes on yet we never see them. I wonder if he’s the one that got Mom booze in the safe house.
“I’ll walk. I have some time.” I get up and grab my go-bag.
Before I can leave, Agent Thomas puts his hand on my bag. “I
know it’s tempting.” He nods toward the computers. “But don’t do it. You have no idea who is watching.”
I jerk my bag out of his hand and storm out of the coffee shop.
—S
—N
89
DISNEY/HYPERION 5½ in. x 8¼ in. Page 89
ELSTON—Rules for DisappearinG_2ND PASS
RULES FOR DISAPPEARING
BY WITNESS PROTECTION PRISONER #18A7R04M:
Don’t fall into a routine. Shake things up. Doing the same thing over and over makes you feel comfortable. And feeling comfortable is bad.
Wednesdaysat the restaurant are busy. Pearl says it’s
all those Bible-beaters eating early before church. I haven’t stopped moving since I walked in at four, but I can’t get Agent Thomas off my mind. When I got home from the coffee shop, I searched
through my bag looking for some sort of tracker or bug or something. I hadn’t been in that coffeehouse long and it’s freaking me out how fast he found me.
Ethan had the nerve to show up around six. His boots and jeans were covered in mud again, so I figured he’d been at the farm. He and Teeny have been in the kitchen ever since. Every time I hear them laugh, it pisses me off. He can’t accuse
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