by Megan Atwood
Colin cursed his palms. Why did he have such an obvious tell when he was nervous? Why couldn’t his reaction to nerves be a cool, strong presence? He wiped sweat off his upper lip. The library felt insanely hot.
At 8:02, according to his watch, Hammer Girl peeked around a bookshelf. Colin waved and then felt like an idiot. She’d left him a threatening note. Should you wave at someone who does that? For all he knew, she was working for the Benefactor by choice, and this was some kind of trap.
She came over to stand next to him, looking at the books on the shelf. “Do you know the Benefactor?” she whispered.
Colin swallowed and pretended to look at books, too. “Yes.”
“There’s a study room in the back. Let’s go there to talk. I’ll go first. Then you follow in five minutes. The Benefactor probably can’t bug a place like this, but they could still have spies watching us. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
And with that, she disappeared.
The next five minutes were the longest in Colin’s life. Finally, he sneaked to the back room and opened the door.
The girl sat at the table in the tiny, windowless room.
“Come on in, Colin. We have a lot to talk about.”
CHAPTER 12
Colin sat down across from her and looked her in the eyes. Really pretty, serious brown eyes.
“Who are you?” he asked.
She looked at him steadily. “My name is Maiv Moua. I’m working for the Benefactor—just like you, and Ana Rivera, and James Trudeleau.”
James Trudeleau must be the spray painter.
“You seem to know a lot about the situation,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral.
Maiv’s eyes flashed. “I’m finding out as much as I can. But the Benefactor is a bit . . . shy.”
Colin let out a surprised chuckle before he could stop himself. “Yeah, that’s one way of phrasing it.”
“And meanwhile, they’re putting us at risk. And our families.”
Colin nodded. Could he trust her? He hoped so. It didn’t seem too likely that she was the only contestant who wasn’t an unwilling pawn in this game.
Still, he shouldn’t let his guard down just yet. He leaned forward. “Why did you agree to do this contest?”
Maiv seemed to think for a second, tucking her hair behind her ears. Colin tried really hard to stop noticing how pretty she was. But he couldn’t help it.
She took a deep breath. “I have six younger brothers and sisters. My mother has three jobs, and my dad can’t work because of a back injury, and we have hardly any health insurance. I could get a full ride to just about anywhere for college—except I can’t leave my family right now. My mom can barely manage as it is. If we had money, my dad could get the help he needs, and my mom wouldn’t have to work herself to death. And I could go to college. That was the dream, anyway.”
Colin nodded. And he made a decision: he would believe her. “Yeah. I get it. I need the money to keep my family’s store running and—”
“I’m pretty sure we all need it,” Maiv cut in. “That’s why the Benefactor approached us. But the Benefactor isn’t interested in helping us.”
“Right,” said Colin. “They’re interested in using us to do their dirty work, and then framing us for whatever it is. And it’s scaring the crap out of me at this point. They’ve threatened my family, and my latest task was to buy a gun. I’m supposed to deliver it to Ana by Saturday night.”
Maiv nodded. She didn’t look shocked to hear that a gun was in the mix. “We need to put an end to this before someone gets hurt.”
“I’m with you there,” said Colin. “I was hoping it would help to figure out what the endgame is. Why they’re doing all this. It has to be part of a master plan.”
“I think so too. I just haven’t been able to figure out what that plan is.”
“Well, one of my tasks was to go to SolarStar, and someone there mentioned Huffman Industries. So I’ve been looking into that . . .”
Maiv’s face went blank with confusion. “SolarStar? Huffmann Industries? I haven’t heard of either of these places.”
“They’re businesses. I think they’re working together on some kind of top secret project, and someone wants that project to fail. Someone connected to Huffmann Industries, I’m guessing.” He quickly outlined what he’d learned from his research. Maiv listened intently. By the time he finished, she looked impressed.
“This is great, Colin. Now that I know these businesses are involved, I can hack into their systems and—”
“Whoa, you can what?”
“Oh. Yeah.” Maiv blushed. “I—I can hack into almost anything. It’s—just a hobby. I just like knowing how things work, being able to find my way around a firewall. The challenge of it, you know. I don’t ever do anything destructive, like steal information or . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she suddenly looked guilty.
“Well, I think that’s an awesome skill,” said Colin. “At least if you’re using it to snoop on the Benefactor and not on me.” He grinned, though he felt a little embarrassed to be joking at a time like this.
Maiv didn’t smile back. In fact, she looked more upset than ever. “Colin, I did use it on you. I hacked into your insurance company’s database and erased the records of your family’s insurance.”
Colin felt the grin drain off his face. So that’s what had happened. That’s why the insurance company had no record of the Burnett policy.
“It was a task,” Maiv added quickly. “The Benefactor told me to do it. I—I felt awful about it. And I didn’t realize then that your store was—failing.”
“It’s not your fault,” said Colin. “And my mom is getting us a new policy, so I’m sure it’ll be fine. Not that it won’t be expensive.” He tried to slip back into a cheerful tone. “Another reason I really could’ve used that prize money!”
This time, Maiv managed a small smile. “I’ll settle for getting to the bottom of this.”
“Deal.”
“So listen. We should probably split up now. We’ve been out of the Benefactor’s sight for too long, and I don’t want them to get suspicious. But I’ve got an email address the Benefactor doesn’t know about. I wrote it down in here.”
She took a tiny notebook out of her pocket. It looked like an old-fashioned reporter’s notebook. Colin flipped it open and saw the email address written on the first page. He was about to tear out the page, but Maiv said, “Just keep the whole notebook. I have a million of them.”
“Old-school,” said Colin. “Not what I’d expect of a hacker. You’re just full of surprises.”
Maiv flashed another smile, her first real one. “Comes in handy when some creep is digitally stalking you.”
Colin tried to clear his head. Now was not the time to flirt.
Except . . . maybe she was flirting back? Just a little?
“You should create a new email account for yourself too,” Maiv added. Back to business. “Make sure you don’t do anything on your home computers, or your phone, or some other device the Benefactor could monitor. Use a public computer. And then let me know when you find out more, and I’ll do the same.”
Colin nodded, trying to take it all in. “I’ll make a new email tonight before I go home. I’ll use one of the computers here, at the library. And I’ll send you a message so you’ll have my new contact info.”
“Sounds good.” Maiv stood up to leave, then paused and put her hand on his arm. “We’re going to get through this. Trust me.”
CHAPTER 13
Danni wouldn’t talk to Colin the next day. Colin tried to apologize for what he’d said, but he just got the silent treatment. He didn’t have much more luck with his mom. They both knew he was hiding something from them. And until he came clean about whatever it was—or until he started acting normal again—they weren’t interested in more excuses.
He put off delivering the gun as long as he could. But on Saturday night he dropped it off at the house. He made sure to be back by ten and in b
ed by ten-thirty so that his mom wouldn’t have one more reason not to trust him. His seventh task, whatever it was, could wait until tomorrow. He fell asleep with his clothes on, too worn out to even bother undressing.
Less than two hours later, he woke with a bang. A literal bang.
At first he thought it was a gunshot. He rolled off his bed and onto the floor.
But after a second, he recognized the high whistling and cracks. Fireworks, not shots.
Colin heard his mom out in the hallway. “Are you guys OK?”
“Yeah,” he called back, heading to his door.
Across the hall, Danni opened her door too. The three of them stood there in the hall staring at each other.
“Well,” said Danni dryly. “That was quite a way to wake up.”
But then Colin smelled it. Smoke. “Wait a minute . . .” He ran back into his room and looked out the window. Smoke curled under the sill.
He heard Danni swear and his mom cry out. Half a second later, all three of them were running downstairs. They burst outside just in time to see the wooden wall and roof overhang catch fire.
Colin’s mom pulled out her phone to dial 9-1-1.
“Water,” said Colin. “We need water.” He started toward the apartment door, thinking he’d fill a bucket at the kitchen sink.
Danni grabbed him and pulled him back. “Don’t go back in there, idiot!”
“We need water!”
“Then let’s find someone with a hose! Don’t go into a burning building, for the love of . . .”
Colin saw people gathering on the sidewalk. He spotted a neighbor with her robe on. “Water!” He screamed. “Does anyone have water?” But most of his neighbors just stood there. Colin could do nothing but watch as his family’s business, their livelihood, and his dad’s legacy burned.
Finally, Colin heard the fire trucks. The red and blue lights swirled around him. He felt dizzy, watching everything as if he was outside of his body. The firefighters found a hydrant and began spraying the building, now almost totally engulfed in flames. Colin felt water on his face but realized it was from tears. And then the three of them—Colin, Danni, and their mom—were hugging harder than he had ever hugged anybody in his whole life.
When the police showed up, Mrs. Burnett talked to them, while Colin broke away from the huddle and paced.
Their insurance papers were gone. Any record of their insurance policy had been erased. The business couldn’t recover from something like this. And it couldn’t be an accident. The Benefactor must’ve arranged it.
He kept pacing, swallowing back more tears. What kind of sick message was the Benefactor sending him now? Did they know Colin had met with Maiv? Or were they just trying to raise the stakes even more—make Colin even more desperate to win that prize money? Did the Benefactor really think he was stupid enough to still think the money was real?
Colin was so angry that it took him several seconds to notice a pair of eyes in the parking lot, peeking out from behind his mom’s car. He knew that face. He knew her.
Ana.
Danni and Mrs. Burnett were still talking to the police. No one was looking at him or at the girl. Colin walked toward the car.
Ana flinched. He saw tears on her face. She put her finger to her lips. “He may be watching,” she whispered. Colin nodded. He turned away from her to look back at the fire.
“I’m so sorry. This fire is my fault. I didn’t realize . . .”
Colin shook his head and clenched his fists. It wasn’t Ana’s fault. They were all pawns in this terrible game.
Through the rage, he choked out the only words that mattered. “We have to find the Benefactor.”
CHAPTER 14
Colin and Ana exchanged their secret email addresses and promised to be in touch. Colin also warned Ana that there was a gun waiting for her at her house. Then Ana sneaked away while the firefighters were still putting out the blaze.
By the time the police and firefighters left, the Burnetts were too weary to talk. The store was wrecked—most of their inventory was ruined or at least slightly damaged. Luckily, the building hadn’t been completely destroyed. The apartment was smoky but mostly intact. Still, they couldn’t stay there tonight.
The three of them piled into the family car, found the cheapest motel in the area, and grabbed a room. Despite feeling completely wired, Colin fell asleep almost instantly.
When he woke up, his first thought was I need to get to a public computer. But it was Sunday morning, so only a few libraries would only be open, and not till later in the day. So instead he checked the Contest website.
TASK 7
6:00
Go to Budget Car Rental on Hiawatha Avenue in South Minneapolis and pick up a van. The reservation has been made already. Use the ID and credit card given to you. Park the van near your motel and leave it there until further instructions.
Great. A van. His next task was probably to kidnap someone or move a body. This had gotten completely out of control.
Well, at least by the time he got the van and parked back here, a few of the public libraries would be open. Then he could get in touch with Maiv and Ana.
Danni and Mrs. Burnett were still asleep when Colin slipped out of the room.
*****
At a library computer, Colin logged on to his new, secret email account. Almost immediately, a chat window popped up. It was Maiv, sending him an instant message.
Colin, are you there?
Colin quickly typed back: Yeah. Should he mention what had happened to the store? No, better start with business. I just got Task 7. It was to pick up a van. A sketchy white van. I’m pretty creeped out.
Well, that makes sense, came her response.
Colin typed, How so?
It took a while for her next message to come through. I just got my ninth task. It’s to run away tonight. I’m supposed to leave a note for my parents telling them not to look for me. I suspect all four of us will get the same task. The Benefactor is setting things up to look as if we’re runaways. That way no one will be surprised when we turn up missing.
What? Colin typed as fast as he could: Turn up missing? What do you mean?
Colin—I think the Benefactor is going to have us killed.
CHAPTER 15
Colin couldn’t think for a minute. His mind was completely blank. Finally he typed back, That’s insane. They’d never get away with killing us!
Why not? Maiv responded. No one else knows about the Benefactor. He’s scared all of us into not telling anyone. And if our families find notes in our own handwriting, saying we’re running away, what other conclusion could they draw? Four kids who have nothing to do with each other—no obvious connection—except that they happen to be runaways. What does that say to you?
Colin typed frantically, not caring if he made a million typos. But they’d check on our emails and see that we were connected by this Benefactor dude and the Contest website.
Maiv didn’t hesitate: Don’t you think the Benefactor has ways to wipe the emails? They’ve bugged our homes, our phones, everything. And they know at least as much about hacking as I do. I’m pretty sure they’ll have no trouble erasing any evidence that the Contest ever existed.
Colin thought for a long moment. Finally he typed, Then we need to go to the police. Now.
Her response was lightning-fast. No way. Do you really think the police would believe two high school kids about something like this? Not without proof. And I mean real proof: proof of who the Benefactor is.
Colin nodded slowly, even though he knew Maiv couldn’t see him. Fair enough, he typed. So for now we keep playing along?
Yes. I hate to hurt my parents, but we can’t risk making the Benefactor angry until we have enough info to expose him.
Colin’s palms were practically dripping with sweat. This is crazy, he typed.
Maiv typed back, Yep. Keep me posted.
She logged off. Next Colin checked the Contest’s website.
TASK 7
COMPLETE
Follow the next steps to win the Contest.
So this was it. Colin took a deep breath.
TASK 8
Write your family a handwritten note saying that you are running away. Tell them you do not want to cause them any more financial burden. Leave the motel by 11 p.m. tonight. Bring the envelope you’ve received with you. When you leave, the first half of your prize money—$5 million—will be given to your family.
Colin paused. Envelope? What envelope?
And then he saw it. Sitting on the corner of his computer table, inches from his right hand. It hadn’t been there a minute ago. It was labeled JAMES.
Colin looked around. The library wasn’t super crowded, but he saw no trace of Ana, James, or Maiv. So who had just put that envelope next to him?
The Benefactor? Or someone else who worked for the Benefactor—someone besides the four contestants?
Stay calm, he told himself. Unless someone had been looking directly over his shoulder for the past five minutes, no spy could’ve known that he was messaging Maiv. And simply using a library computer shouldn't make the Benefactor suspicious. After all, the Burnett home was a smoky mess, Colin hadn’t taken his laptop with him, and the motel was a dump. Those were all good, innocent reasons for him to be here. Anyway, whoever had left the envelope had clearly been working fast, not hanging around to see what he was up to.
Colin suppressed a shudder and went back to reading.
TASK 9
Park the van at the corner of Nicollet Mall and Jefferson Avenue. Look for an African American boy in front of the SolarStar building. Slip the envelope into his pocket without speaking to him. Then return to the van.
TASK 10
Three other people will join you in the van. Drive to West River Parkway and wait by the park across from the river. There, you will receive $5 million, the second half of your prize money.
Colin sat back in his chair. So Maiv was right. They were all supposed to run away. And drive to the river in his sketchy white van. In Colin’s head, alarm bells were screaming. Trap. It had to be. Just as Maiv suspected, the Benefactor planned to kill them tonight.