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.“It’s clearer,” he says, “but I don’t know who it is.”It’s funny.He doesn’t ask if I can identify the voice.He must figure I’d say something if I do.The shock of recognition is so strong I’m literally stunned into silence.At my side, Raul babbles on.“…hospital and ask Mrs.Voorham to listen.What do you think, Val? Maybe she’ll know who it is.”“Um, sure.Okay.But you’ll have to go by yourself.I want to stay home in case ‘stay tuned’ means MP is planning to contact me there.”“Let me know if they do.” Raul waves his phone.“This didn’t work out the way we thought, but we’re close.Something’s going to break.I can feel it!”He waits until I unlock the front door before hustling down the street.The house is quiet.Taking the steps two at a time, I burst into the bedroom.Bethany’s not home yet.Quickly, I check email.Nothing from MP, although Omar sent the audio in a file so I could listen at home.With pounding heart, I press Play in the dim hope that from the computer’s speaker, it will sound different.Be different.It’s done.Can we get him down—The voice hasn’t changed because the person’s the same.Bethany Ann Gaines.My world spins crazily, a kaleidoscope of confusion.My own sister’s a member of MP? It doesn’t make sense.She wouldn’t leave Jagger in the warehouse.She couldn’t.She’s in love with him.Sinking onto her bed, I take a couple of deep breaths.Try to think it through step by step.As much as I fight it, the logic is undeniable.The secret emails that came from this very computer.It wasn’t some sort of genius hacker trick; it was Bethie, sending them to me when I wasn’t home.Making me go to Promenade Park first and then leaving notes all over the Heights.She had to do that so she’d get home before I did.I also figure out how she changed her voice to make me think the double agent was a guy.It wasn’t a phone app.Grandma bought the twins a microphone toy last year.It shifts tones higher or lower.The boys played with it for weeks until they got bored.Left it lying in the toy chest….A fury unlike anything I’ve ever felt runs through me.I wham Bethany’s pillow against the mattress.Over and over and over again.It isn’t until a piece of paper falls out of the cotton pillowcase that I stop.My combo! She freaking stole it from my backpack! That’s how MP got into the locker to hang the bird.I’ve been such a fool.Blind to everything.She’s the double agent, not Liam.But what I can’t figure out is why she didn’t tell me straight up when she wanted to get out of MP.It’s not like we’re the closest of sisters.Still—we are sisters.Why go through all the double agent B.S.?The answer hits seconds later.Bethany’s terrified.Afraid of what’ll happen to her if Taneisha talks.If MP gets caught.If Campus News breaks the story.She got in over her head and then couldn’t find a way out without owning up to what she did.The plan for Jagger’s initiation freaked her out.She kept giving me clues, hints—hoping, praying I’d talk him out of joining.She didn’t actually want me to find out she’s in the group because she’s as guilty as the rest of them.What she hoped was that the initiation would end before it began.An all-too-familiar feeling of guilt hits.Big Sister couldn’t do the one thing Little Sis asked.Something else occurs to me.I move to the computer.To my dismay, this last piece of evidence proves it once and for all.The footage Raul and I downloaded from Jagger’s camera is gone.There’s only one explanation.As soon as Bethany saw it on Campus News today, she snuck home and deleted it.Perhaps she hoped it was the only copy.If it’s gone, we can’t do what we said—play another section during the next broadcast.But Bethany has no idea I did it without telling Carleton.That I might never be able to show anything again—because as of Monday, there’s a good chance I’m off the team.Somewhere in the house, something creaks.“Bethany?” I scoot across the floor and step into the hall.Complete silence.“Bethany! Are you home?”No answer.I clatter down the steps.Her coat’s not hanging in the entranceway.I check the kitchen, although I’m pretty sure she’s not there.I’d hear the fridge opening, milk being poured, the crinkling of the cookie package.My sister isn’t in the living room, either.I could have imagined the sound.Or the top-floor renter moved a piece of furniture.As soon as I’m back in the bedroom, I look around.What am I missing? Nothing’s out of place.Nothing’s gone.Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong.Bethany really should be home by now.My gaze focuses on the corner.The closet! Perhaps that’s where the noise came from.Is someone inside? Waiting to spring out…?With pounding heart, I tiptoe across the room, jerk the doorknob.No one’s there.My cell rings.“Bethany! Where are you—”“Maritime Park,” she whispers.“Come right now.Alone.No cameras.No tape recorder.Don’t tell anyone or I’m screwed.”“Wait.What’s—” The only sound that comes from the phone is the hum that signals a broken connection.I call her back.Text twice.No response.Oh, man.I never want to set foot in that park again.The garden, the flagpole, the benches next to the river.Just thinking about it makes my hand shake [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]