Prodigy Read Online Free PDF Page B

What’s more, Razor’s gun must be hacked. No
     way the Republic is tracking those for fingerprints or locations. Where did the Patriots
     get the money and skills to hack such advanced equipment?
    This all leads me to two theories:
    One—Razor must be some sort of commander in the Republic, a double-crossing officer.
     How else can he stay in this barrack apartment without being detected?
    Two—the Patriots are being funded by someone with deep pockets. The Colonies? Possibly.
    In spite of all my suspicions and guesses, Razor’s offer is still as good as we’re
     going to get. We have no money to buy help on the black market, and without help,
     we have no chance of finding Eden
or
making it to the Colonies. Also, I’m not even sure we
could
have turned down Razor’s offer. He certainly hasn’t threatened us in any way, but
     I doubt he’d just let us walk back out onto the streets, either.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see Day waiting for my response to Razor’s statement.
     All I need to see are the paleness of his lips and the pain laced across his face,
     just a few of the dozen signs of his fading strength. At this point, I think his life
     depends on our deal with Razor.
    “Assassinating the new Elector,” I say. “Done.” My words sound foreign and distant.
     For a moment, I think back on meeting Anden and his late father at the ball celebrating
     Day’s capture. The thought of killing Anden makes my stomach churn.
He’s the Republic’s

Elector
now.
After everything that’s happened to my family, I should be happy for the opportunity
     to kill him. But I’m not, and it confuses me.
    If Razor notices my hesitation, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he nods approvingly.
     “I’ll put out an urgent call for a Medic. They probably won’t be able to come until
     midnight—that’s when the shifts change. It’s the fastest we can be on such a tight
     schedule. Meanwhile, let’s get you two out of those disguises and into something more
     presentable.” He glances over at Kaede. She’s leaning against the couch with hunched
     shoulders and an irritated scowl, chewing absently on a lock of her hair. “Show them
     to the shower and give them a pair of fresh uniforms. Afterward, we’ll have a late
     supper, and we can talk more about our plan.” He spreads his arms wide. “Welcome to
     the Patriots, my young friends. We’re glad to have you.”
    And just like that, we’re officially bound to them. Maybe it’s not such a bad thing,
     either—maybe I never should’ve argued with Day about this in the first place. Kaede
     motions for us to follow her into an adjoining hall in the apartment and guides us
     to a spacious bathroom, complete with marble tiles and porcelain sinks, mirror and
     toilet, bathtub and shower with frosted glass walls. I can’t help admiring it all.
     This is wealth beyond even what I had in my Ruby sector apartment.
    “Don’t be all night about it,” she says. “Take turns—or get cozy and shower together,
     if that’s faster. Just be back out there in a half hour.” Kaede grins at me (although
     the smile doesn’t touch her eyes), then gives Day a thumbs-up as he leans heavily
     on my shoulder. She turns away and disappears back down the hall before I can reply.
     I don’t think she’s forgiven me entirely for breaking her arm.
    Day slouches the instant Kaede’s gone. “Can you help me sit down?” he whispers.
    I put the toilet cover down and ease him gently onto it. He stretches out his good
     leg, then tenses his jaw as he tries to straighten out the injured one. A moan escapes
     his lips. “I’ve gotta admit,” he mutters, “I’ve had better days.”
    “At least Tess is safe,” I reply.
    This eases some of the pain in his eyes. “Yes,” he echoes, sighing deeply. “At least
     Tess is safe.” I feel an unexpected twinge of guilt. Tess’s face had looked so sweet,
     so wholly
good.
And the two of them were separated because of
me.
    Am
I
good? I