Kyle’s phone sounded. He reached behind his back. He looked at the text, and then over at me.
I stared out the window, counting the light poles. Think, Lexi. Think. Who was R.W.? How did Kyle and this R.W. know about the journals?
“How the hell did he get my cell phone number?” Kyle held his phone up so that he could see it and the road at the same time.
“Who?” I shrugged.
“Jack.”
“Text?”
“Yeah. He says that if you’re with me, to call him. ‘Now!’ There’s lots of exclamation points.”
I scrolled through the names on my phone. What would I say to Jack? Especially with Kyle in the car. Finally, I jabbed at Jack’s name and brought the phone to my ear.
“I don’t have much time,” he said when he picked up. “Father’s here. And he’s pissed you’re not.”
“What do you want me to do about it?” I asked. Kyle was back to thumping his hand on the steering wheel. “I have an idea.”
“You better think of something, because security was instructed to search Kyle’s car as soon as he enters the main gate.”
“What, like I’m some sort of fugitive?” This was ridiculous. Why was Jack allowed to leave campus, and I wasn’t?
“No, but like I thought your coach made clear earlier, the school takes their lock-downs very seriously. Especially when a student’s legal guardian shows up looking for the person he’s responsible for and she’s not there.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kyle pulled along the side of the road at the very back of Wellington’s property. I jumped out with my backpack. “Go.”
“Are you sure about this? I don’t care about getting into a little bit of trouble.”
“I’m fine. Now go.”
I darted toward the shrubbery and searched for the hole Kyle, Danielle, Briana, and I had carved out when we were freshman. We thought it would be a brilliant idea to sneak out of Wellington and go to a party with friends from the public school near Wellington. We’ve used it a few times since, but the hedges filled back in nicely. Too well, actually.
I followed the path beside the overgrown shrubs, and fearing snakes and ticks, I pushed through the dense greenery.
“Ouch.” A branch sliced my shin. Blood stained the area around a tear in my jeans.
A bird fluttered on a branch in front of me, mocking me, I was certain. I ducked under a tree limb and faced yet another obstacle. A tall chain-link fence that appeared electrical.
Fantastic. When did they put this here? And why?
I looked around for something to throw at it. That’s what they did in Jurassic Park. Did that only work in the movies? Bending over, I found a small branch and tossed it at the fence.
Nothing.
Next, I stepped closer. My heart pumped fast and hard. I raised my hand. Like a cobra poised to attack, I darted it forward, slapped the metal, and drew back.
Nothing.
Finally, I curled my fingers around the metal of the fence and counted my blessings that I wasn’t electrocuted. I leaned my head backwards, studying the height of it, and then I looked down at the flip-flops on my feet.
This was going to hurt. I massaged my right shoulder—the one hurt in the car accident last week. The one Jack had mostly healed. With a deep breath, I climbed.
The climb up wasn’t a problem, but my stomach churned acid when I looked down to the other side.
I tossed my bag to the ground, hurled the first leg over the top, then the other.
I moved one foot at a time. A foot slipped, causing me to grasp tighter with my hands. Halfway down, both feet slipped, and I was left dangling, the wire cutting into my palms. I started to turn my head to see how far off the ground I was when two hands eased around my waist.
My body tensed.
“I’ve got you.” Jack sounded irritated, just like I imagined my knight in shining armor should. “Let go.”
I did and slid down into his hold. I turned and threw my arms around his neck. “He knows, Jack. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Who knows what? What are you talking about?” He smoothed out my hair.
“The journals. Kyle knows.” I told Jack about the texts between Kyle and R.W. It seemed everyone was now looking for journals I didn’t even know existed until recently. “Do you think my father was killed because of these journals?”
“I don’t know.”
“Thank you for coming to rescue me, by the way.”
“Yeah. Speaking of…” His tone changed from kind to chastising. “You should thank me for not blowing your cover to the dean and my father.” He removed my arms and stepped back. “There’s a house arrest cuff with your name on it in Coach Williams’ desk drawer.”
I winced.
“You told me you wouldn’t leave campus again.”
“No, I didn’t. You asked me not to, but I never said I wouldn’t. Where were you? I looked for you when I decided to leave. You were nowhere to be found.”
Jack cocked his head, considered me. “I told you I’d take you to see you grandmother tomorrow.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie if he avoided the question all together.
I brushed dirt off my jeans. “Well, I’m fine. Back safe and sound.” I glanced down at my leg. “Mostly sound.”
“Don’t you get it, Lexi? You’re reckless. Someone is trying to kill you, and you go off wild and out of control.”
“Reckless? I am far from reckless. And I’m completely in control.” I tossed my backpack on my good shoulder and started walking away. I made it all of five steps before he grabbed my arm and spun me around. I stared straight into his eyes. They were passionate. Daring and inviting. All I could see, though, was the image of him bowed at that little girl’s bedside. My heart shrunk at the thought that I might be capable of helping that defenseless girl. “Don’t be mad. Please.”
He brushed hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. “What am I going to do with you?” He stood so close that a light breeze would slam him into me. The intensity of his blue eyes slowly stripped away the bricks of defense I managed to cement around me.
I slipped my arms around his waist and leaned my head against his chest. I could feel the muscles in his arms relax. How could I tell him that I knew why he wanted me, needed my power? If I didn’t have the power to heal that innocent little girl, would he still love me? “There’s just so much going on. I miss my dad.” I needed Dad here to guide me.
I shivered.
“I know you do. I’m sorry.” He leaned in and kissed my forehead. His lips were soft, his touch gentle.
“I think he was trying to tell me everything when he was killed. From a young age, he used to talk to me in riddles. See if I could figure things out. He’d send me coded emails. I’d have to break the code before I could read them. Sometimes, I’d have to go on a scavenger hunt across the internet to find out what my Christmas gift was. And he sent me the most amazing gifts—like these puzzle boxes.” I looked up at Jack who had gone silent.
“Puzzle boxes?”
“Yeah, you know. You have to figure out the right piece of wood to move, or remove, in order to get the box to open. The first one he ever sent me had a pewter starfish on top of it.” And the last one he sent me was in the shape of a starfish. “With the first one, you had to remove one of the arms before another section could be moved to reveal a key hole.” I smiled at the memory. Dad was always so proud when I figured out some of the early boxes.
Some of them even had more than one compartment. That always threw me. “Oh, my gosh!” I gazed up at Jack. “I gotta go.” I stood on my tippy toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for coming to my rescue, but—”
Jack wrapped his fingers around my arm just above my elbow. “Oh, no you don’t.”
“I think I figured something out!” I pulled on my arm, but he didn’t loosen his grip.
“Figured what out?”
“The last puzzle box that Dad sent me. I onl
y found one compartment. The one with the starfish necklace and key. There had to be another.” There had to be another clue hidden in what he had sent me.
“Lexi, my parents are waiting in Dean Fisher’s office. I told them you were in a study group. We have to go straight there.”
~~~~
Cathy DeWeese’s back was to us when we entered Dean Fisher’s office. “Seth sponsored the entire cost of the art show for tomorrow night?” she asked the dean.
Dr. DeWeese glanced from me to his son. He raised a finger to his lip, silencing his wife.
Cathy turned. “Oh.” She opened her arms and walked toward me. “Oh, you poor dear.”
I stepped hesitantly into her outstretched arms and turned my head in time to see Jack’s eyes roll heavenward. Her bangle bracelets knocked against my shoulder when she released me, holding me at arm’s length. “How are you feeling? Still a little shaky?”
Shaky? From the accident? “Um… my shoulder still hurts a little, I guess.” I glanced at Jack again. He rubbed a hand over his lips. Is this woman for real?
Well, now you know she and I are not related by blood. But she did raise me. He shrugged.
“Have a seat, kids.” Dean Fisher gestured toward the chairs on the other side of his desk. “John and I have talked…”
Dr. DeWeese leaned against the desk and faced us. “Neither of you are to leave this campus unless it’s with one of us.” He pointed back and forth between his wife and himself.
Jack stood. “What? You can’t do that.”
“We thought you might say that,” Cathy said. “But it’s been decided.” She stared at her son, not blinking once. “You decided to come to this school against my wishes. You get to obey school rules.”
“You don’t get to make rules for me. I’m already eighteen.”
“You’re partially right, son,” Dr. DeWeese said, his voice calm. “You are eighteen. If you don’t want to abide by lame school rules, you can come back home and study there until it’s time to leave for college next fall.” I think it hurt Dr. DeWeese to utter the word ‘lame.’ Still, he pulled it off okay.
Cathy’s cheeks lifted, like she’d won some small battle. “Son, what’s it going to be? Stay at Wellington? Or return home?”
I suddenly felt I was intruding on a family conversation. Jack stood close to his mother, his expression alternating between irritated and humiliated. He turned his head to me.
I lifted a brow. Don’t look at me. If you need to leave Wellington, by all means…
“I do have a bit of bad news, though, son.”
“What bad news?” Jack asked.
“If you’ll excuse me…” Dean Fisher held his phone up like he had just received a message. “Unless you need me, I need to check on an issue with preparations for tomorrow night’s show.”
Without another word, the dean breezed from the room. I turned back to the tension mounting between Jack and his mom.
“It’s about Addison, darling. I’m afraid the situation is dire.”
I sat up straighter. Dr. DeWeese frowned, and even Cathy’s eyes filled with tears.
Jack cast a nervous look at me. “Lexi, can you give me a moment alone with my mother and father?” Then he added, I’m sorry.
So much for trust. He didn’t want me to hear about Addison. Why was he keeping her from me? Especially if he thought I could heal her.
I stood. “Sure. I need to go… do that thing—”
I am sorry. Meet me at the stables in one hour.
It’ll be past curfew. I thought for a second. Could I get out and across campus without being noticed? Would he tell me about Addison then? I’ll be there. I started toward the door, straining to hear what Cathy said to her son. But heard nothing.
“I’ll walk you out dear.” Dr. DeWeese followed me.
I exited the dean’s office and stood at his secretary’s desk. It was late in the evening. The offices were empty except for us.
He clicked the door shut behind us. “How are you really doing, Lexi?”
I shrugged. I missed Dad. “Fine, I guess?” No, that was a lie. “Actually, Dr. DeWeese—”
“Please, call me John.”
“Did you find my father’s journals in Sicily?”
“No.” The disappointment on his face was genuine.
“What did you hope to find in these journals?”
He glanced over his shoulder to the office door behind him. “Jack told me that you now know how you were… created.”
I nodded. Why couldn’t he just answer the question?
“What Jack didn’t tell you, because he didn’t know, was that your father didn’t know you were implanted in your mother’s womb until well after you were born.”
“What?” The room started a slow spin. “Dad didn’t know?”
“He knew about the clonings and the gene alterations, but your dad thought the embryos had been destroyed, like they were supposed to be. Before they became viable. Then the fire happened, and everyone scattered. Your parents were tricked.”
“Tricked? By whom? What do you mean?”
“Your mom went in for a routine in vitro fertilization because she had struggled to conceive. She came out pregnant. With you. Cathy and I have many theories on who was behind making sure the embryos reached hosts.”
Hosts? That made me sound like an alien. A parasite.
I walked slowly over to a chair and clung to the arm. My father wasn’t directly responsible for the freak that I was? Still, he was very much involved. “What are your theories? You think Sandra was responsible?”
“Maybe. Or the International Intelligence Agency. Maybe Sandra’s entire experiment got away from her. She could be mostly innocent in this. No one has talked to her since before the fire. Hell, I hadn’t spoken to your father since then.”
I squeezed the bridge of my nose.
John continued. “Your dad told me the night of the dinner. He planned to tell you the truth. About everything. But…”
“He was killed.”
He nodded.
“Why all the secrets? Why not tell Jack and me the truth sooner?”
“It was too risky. Your dad and I were very much involved with Sandra’s wild theories that she could enhance the genetic makeup of certain parts of the brain, and then with proper training, create human beings capable of… well… healing incurable diseases and injuries. We were on board with everything Sandra wanted to do. Until…”
“Until what?”
John rubbed his hand back and forth across his five o’clock shadow. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Until Sandra made a deal with the IIA. Your dad discovered correspondence between Sandra and an IIA agent. He was outraged. She had agreed to sell her research to them. And she secretly copied your dad and me on all correspondence, implicating us.”
“But you didn’t know what she was doing?” John shook his head. “What happened? What did the IIA do with this information?”
“I don’t know. Our labs were destroyed in a fire. Jack had just been born. Everyone went their separate ways in order to protect themselves. Cathy and I vowed to protect Jack at all costs. Your dad kept you hidden from me. From everyone. Not until I saw a picture of a young Sandra Whitmeyer in a newspaper…” John narrowed his gaze at me. “…that was actually you. That’s when I started to put things together. That’s how I found Wellington.”
Deep inside, I knew Dad loved me. He showed me over and over. So why had he kept everything from me? “Why are you telling me all of this now?”
“Your dad wanted you to live a long, healthy life and never have to come face to face with the future laid out before you now. Unfortunately, he also knew that was not the way it would be. That’s why he enrolled you here at Wellington, where there were enough people around you who knew the truth and could be trusted at the same time.”
“He was planning to move me. Do you know why?”
“No. Who told you that?” he asked, unable to hide his surp
rise.
I studied his face, a face so similar to Jack’s, only older. Mostly the eyes. The same electric blue that made you want to reveal your deepest secrets. However, John’s baldness kept me grounded in reality. This was not Jack. Though what he divulged to me made sense with everything I’d learned so far, I barely knew this person in front of me.
I thought of Marci. How scared she was the last time I saw her. “I can’t tell you that.” He nodded again. He was so different from his wife. A level of understanding passed over his face. “You knew about Jack from the beginning?” I asked.
“Yes and I knew you would turn up sooner or later. I just didn’t know where.”
I cocked my head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I knew you’d been created, just like the others. I just didn’t know whose child you had become.”
I gasped. “What others? What do you mean?” This must be what Marci was talking about. “How many?” My body tensed. How many clones were out there? Did they know? I thought of the person who’d gotten inside my head when I slept.
And of Briana. She didn’t know. She couldn’t.
“I’m not sure how many survived. And I don’t know what the IIA knows.” He rubbed his head, very similar to how Jack ran his fingers through his hair. “But your dad figured it out. And he documented everything he knew.”
“The journals,” I whispered.
John nodded. “That’s why finding these journals is so important. The journals contain the information your dad never got the chance to tell me. Including, hopefully, information that will lead to whoever killed him.”
“But why kill Dad?” I whispered, mostly to myself. Then realization hit. “Someone doesn’t want this information revealed. Maybe Dad had the journals with him.”
“The originals. Possibly.”
I cocked my head. Stared at the man before me with the same eyes as the boy on the other side of the door.
“Does Jack know all of this?”
“He does now. Unfortunately, what Sandra, your father, and I did all those years ago is who you are now. Only you can decide if you’re willing to accept it.”
“There are people who would have Jack and me use the powers Sandra gave us.”
“They’re amazing powers, Lexi. You and Jack have the ability to cure people of things no other person on earth can.”