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you did. And once they got a load of your system…that would kick off questions we don’t want asked.”
    “Tell them! Tell them who I am. How I come to have the hacking power I do. Tell them why I needed it. Tell them I’m the Fixer and bring Hadley home!”
    “But it
won’t
bring Hadley home.” Mort spoke in a defeated whisper. “The whole damn agency will get so wrapped up in the drama of bringing you in that any search for Hadley will be shoved to the back burner.”
    He was right. She could see the headlines now. INTERNATIONAL ASSASSIN CAPTURED…LEGEND IS REAL: THE FIXER IS CAUGHT. News stations would fixate on Lydia’s exploits. Mort would face prosecution for his role in allowing the Fixer to go free. And Allie would have all the time she needed to take Hadley to a place no one would ever find her.
    Until she tires of her. Until she chooses to deliver her final, vengeful blow that will destroy everyone who loves that little girl.
    Lydia stood and stalked down the hall. She grabbed blankets and pillows from a closet and came back to the living room.
    “Sleep, Mort. You’re no good to anyone in this condition.”
    She didn’t have to tell him twice. His exhaustion was complete. Mort kicked off his shoes, stuffed a pillow at the end of the sofa, and stretched out. By the time Lydia opened the blanket and covered him, his breath had already fallen into the deep, steady cadence of slumber.
    She stood over him.
    “I’ll bring Hadley home,” she whispered. “Whatever it takes. Whatever it costs.”
    Whoever has to die.

Chapter 6
Seattle
    Kashawn Meadows watched the neighborhood roll by. Here he was. Sitting in the back of D’Loco’s cruise. J-Fox driving. Big Cheeks riding shotgun. Feeling like,
Man, it doesn’t get any better than this.
His only wish was that the windows weren’t so dark. Heads turned when this ride rolled by. Everybody knew it was D’Loco in back. Even the old church ladies shaking their heads as if anyone in that car gave a care for what they thought. Kashawn wanted everybody to know who was sitting next to the man. He was the newest member of the 97s. Freshest horse in the posse. Maybe he’d roll the window down a bit. Let folks catch an eyeful of who’s knocking elbows with D’Loco.
    For sure he’d do it if LaTonya happened to be strolling down the street. Wouldn’t
that
give her something to think about while she was on her way to her school chores. She’d have to think twice about feeling sorry for somebody just because he couldn’t afford that slop in the cafeteria, now wouldn’t she?
    “Green K. I’m talking at you, boy.” D’Loco shoved his shoulder against Kashawn’s. “I ask if you’re up for this.”
    Kashawn pulled his gaze away from the street.
    “I’m okay. Just drinkin’ it in’s all. And hell, yeah. I’m up for this. I tole you, D’Loco. I’m up for anything. You name it. S’done. No doubt.”
    D’Loco laughed and slapped the back of the driver’s seat. “You hear the man, J-Fox? Say he ready for whatever. Was Green K up for some shit when them ladies come by the house last night?”
    J-Fox and Mouse joined in on D’Loco’s laughter. It had been a long night. After D’Loco had given him his gold chain—after he was made a full and forever member of the 97s—his new brothers had started the party. Liquor, pot, coke. It was all brought out to celebrate the family’s expansion. Kashawn knew he was being judged by how much he could handle, and most everything they were throwing at him was new territory. But he couldn’t let them know. He was a player now. Had to act like one, and he had a plan. Everything seemed to be working fine. He paced himself. Whenever the booze or the bong got him feeling too mellow to continue with the festivities, he’d snort a line. Revive himself. Thump his chest and reach for the next glass of whatever was handed to him.
    But somewhere past midnight his calculations let him down. What happened next would be a