Hourglass (Hourglass 1)

“There’s nothing we can do about it now.”

“If we’re successful in saving Liam, he can make it all right again.” He lowered his arms. “We just have to protect everyone in the meantime.”

“What about Lily?” I asked. “Would he target her?”

“He could target anyone to get to you. Do you want her to come here?”

I did, but I didn’t think she’d go for it. “No. I’ll call her.”

“I’ll go find Dune. Get him started on the travel arrangements for Thomas and Dru.”

I dialed Lily’s number.

“Lily, it’s me. Something has happened, and I need you to do a couple of things.”

“Tell me what you need, sugar.” Leave it to Lily to stay cool and not ask questions. She was my best friend for a reason.

“The biggest thing is that you look out for yourself. This would be a good time to keep the baseball bat that lives by the back door pretty close to wherever you are.”

She let go with a string of curse words.

“And if anyone asks, you don’t know where Michael and I are.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end. “I don’t know where you are.”

“It needs to stay that way. No matter what happens.” I was terrified of what might be in the files, not just about me, but about my best friend. “Do you understand me?”

She was silent for a beat. “I understand.”

I didn’t let the tears fall until I’d hung up the phone.

Chapter 41

Michael sat at the kitchen table, laptop open, poring over newspaper articles and college records from six months ago. He had set up a timetable and was trying to find any holes. Dune held another laptop on his knees and searched traffic and accident reports to make sure we’d have clear roadways. Nate leaned against the kitchen counter, holding up a map of Ivy Springs for Dune.

I held an extra copy of the timetable, and tried to hold down the vomit.

Cat was as nervous as a mom sending her baby off to kindergarten. Possibly more, which was appropriate, considering what we were doing was way more dangerous.

“Okay, Michael, you have keys to the car, yes?” He held them up and then returned them to the table beside his computer, and Cat made a tick mark on the paper in her hand. “I have the keys to the science department.”

“You need the identification number for the cadaver you need to steal,” Dune said.

I couldn’t help but shudder.

“I’ll pull that up and make a note,” Michael said. “What else?”

“Keys, cadaver—oh, then there’s the …” Cat continued stalking around the kitchen, muttering under her breath.

Dune turned his attention to me. “I’ll check Thomas and Dru’s flight arrival time, too. I know you’ll want to talk to them before you go, make sure they got to the island safely.”

“Thanks, Dune.” I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. My thoughts kept straying back to Landers and what he was up to. Would any of us ever be safe again? If he were on a power trip of the magnitude everyone thought he was, what would be the retribution if we were successful in resurrecting Liam?

“Hold it. What about money?” When Kaleb spoke, I opened my eyes. “What’s Dad supposed to live on for six months?”

Cat tapped her pencil on the notepad she was holding. “I can liquidate some assets, raise some cash, but we have to make sure we don’t use any bills printed after the date he died.”

“Yeah, I don’t think being arrested for counterfeiting would be a good way to stay under the radar. I can go to the bank,” Nate offered, putting the town map down on the counter. “Use my skills to sneak into the vault and get what we need. That way we won’t have to explain our need for bills with specific dates.”