Dead Ringer
Page 28
There had to be someone on the outside who knew something Sarah did not want revealed—maybe someone who helped her along the way?
With the help of Syke and a few of his guys, Sasha searched endless company databases in every state in the country. They checked hospitals for records of a “Laura Rivers” staying overnight after what had to be several facial surgeries. They scrubbed the black market for the source of her fake IDs and bank accounts. They even went so far as to post a picture of Laura’s face on one of the boards fellow hackers used to help each other with problems in what they called the "off-screen world." “Have you seen this girl? If so, what do you know about her?” In three weeks, there wasn’t a single reply.
And then—just like it had happened on Laura River’s very first day at Englewood High—the answer appeared on Sasha’s screen. It arrived just as she was headed to bed after her first night back to school following winter break. It was from Syke.
For a second, Sasha froze just like she had when she saw the words Sarah Castro-Tanner ping her system over four months ago. Once again, this news came in the form of a name.
SYKE: I’ve got something for you. Something big.
SASHA: Go ahead.
SYKE: Andrew Craig—med student in San Francisco.
SASHA: Who’s that?
SYKE: Your sister’s worst nightmare.
THE END
…for now.
Acknowledgments
To the entire Full Fathom Five team: thank you for your support through every phase of this project, especially the part where you picked Dead Ringer to publish.
To Mollie Glick at Foundry: thank you for believing in me with hours of guidance from my very first proposal; here's to many, many more.
To Laura Bernier, editor extraordinaire: thank you for your brilliant brain and very gentle touch. You've ruined me for notes.
To Mom, my very first publisher: I've come a long way from our cereal box-bound books, thanks to your love.
To Dad, my very first editor: the typos you've caught are countless, but I still have every email you've ever sent telling me to keep pushing.
To R, again: for reminding me how important it is to trust myself at every turn, by trusting I'll find my way.
And to Rachel, the giant gust of wind beneath my baby bird wings: You were right. I can write a novel.
About the Author
Jessie Rosen is a writer, producer, and performer. She grew up in New Jersey, attended Boston College in Massachusetts, and began her writing career in New York. Her live storytelling series Sunday Night Sex Talk has received national attention. She was named one of “The 25 Best Bloggers, 2013 Edition” by TIME magazine for her blog 20-Nothings, which was also named in “The 100 Best Websites for Women” and “The Top 10 Best Websites for Millennial Women” in 2013 by Forbes.
Rosen is the oldest of four girls, which gives her a special window into the minds of teenagers. She now lives in Los Angeles, where she’s working on film and television projects, as well as her next novel.
Connect with Jessie online at:
Author Website: http://20-nothings.com
Twitter: @20Nothings
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Full Fathom Five Digital is an imprint of Full Fathom Five
Dead Ringer
Copyright © 2015 by Jessie Rosen
All rights reserved.
Created by Rachel Miller and packaged by Mollie Glick.
No part of this text may be used or reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without written permission from the publisher.
For information visit Full Fathom Five Digital, a division of Full Fathom Five LLC, at
www.fullfathomfive.com
Cover design by Cow Goes MooTM
ISBN 978-1-63370-087-1
First Edition