Forsaken (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #3)(79)

“Gia, wake up.”

She shifts and lifts her head and then jolts upright. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just the opposite. Get dressed. We need to make plans.”

“Plans?”

“Yes,” I say, grabbing my jeans and pulling them on. “I said we were going to end this, and we are. Can you make a flawed but convincing prototype of the cylinder?”

“Maybe. I have the schematics.”

“Where?”

“Several remote electronic storage accounts, and a lockbox in Texas.”

“That might be all that we need.” I motion her forward. “Hurry. Get dressed.”

She scrambles to the end of the bed, rushing to the pile of her clothes by the chaise lounge. “What are you thinking, Chad?”

“I’ll explain once we get everyone together. I’m still piecing it all together in my head.”

Five minutes later, Gia and I enter the kitchen to find Amy, Liam, and Tellar at the table, with no signs of taking a break. When all eyes go to Gia, she holds up her hands. “Yes, my father created the cylinder. Sheridan killed him and befriended me. I never knew the cylinder existed. I fully intend to protect my father’s legacy by not allowing it to destroy the world. That’s all for now.” She motions to me and sits down.

I lean on the back of a chair. “And that about sums up the prelude to a realization that just hit me. That work for everyone?”

Tellar gives Gia a steely look. “Why didn’t you tell us all of this before?”

Gia bristles slightly and then lets her self-confessed nervous habit of being a smartass rise to the challenge. “I was busy being poisoned with arsenic by the man who killed my father.”

“Okaaaay then,” Tellar says. “Works for me.”

“I’m satisfied,” Liam states.

“Good,” I say, claiming my seat. “Let’s talk about a new strategy. We set Rollin aside. We can deal with Sheridan first, and we do that by going straight to the Chinese.”

Tellar leans forward, glaring at me. “What are you drinking? They’re far more dangerous than Sheridan and Rollin, and we have nothing to offer them.”

“Actually, we do,” I reply. “Gia has her father’s journal with notes and equations related to the cylinder, and a schematic for an early prototype.”

“Both will keep the most brilliant of scientists swimming in circles,” Gia adds. “My father coded it so it only meant something to him. It’s a jumbled confusing mess to everyone else.”

“Sheridan had the journal for six years, and no one he hired ever figured that out,” I add, leaning forward. “The plan is, we offer them the journal and schematic in exchange for crushing Sheridan and his consortium, and Rollin along with them.”

Liam shakes his head. “We don’t know how much Sheridan has told the Chinese. There is no guarantee they’ll settle for a journal and schematics. It’s too risky.”

“It would be if I were talking about going to Sheridan’s people,” I agree. “But I’m talking about one of the many radical groups tired of government oppression.”

Amy’s eyes go wide. “Radicals? That sounds dangerous.”

“We left dangerous for vicious six years ago, sis,” I remind her. “It’s time to get our lives back.”

“All the more reason that I don’t want you in added danger,” she insists. “We can’t be sure Sheridan’s Chinese contacts don’t know who you are. Why wouldn’t they just come directly after you once Sheridan is out of the picture?”

“No way would Sheridan tell them who I am,” I say, “or who Gia is, for that matter. If Sheridan disclosed his sources, the Chinese would bypass him, and his payday.”

“I’d agree with that,” Liam adds. “I have zero concern that Sheridan gave away his sources. The man is giving away power. He wants guaranteed cash, and that means the cylinder goes direct from him to them.”

“I’m actually surprised he’s giving up the power,” Gia comments. “Knowing him, I was certain that’s what he was after.”

“Money is power,” Liam says, “and at some point he had to realize that no matter how cautiously that cylinder might be released to the public, it will rock the economic world as we know it. We can’t tell the Chinese the prototype works.”

“No one but Chad has ever seen the cylinder,” Gia replies, “including me. For all anyone knows, what we’re giving them is all there is.”

He gives a nod and glances in my direction. “It’s a good plan. I have connections in China, people I trust that can connect you with the right people—but then what? We need a clear-cut plan.”

“It goes through me,” I say. “No one else. I offer them what we have in exchange for what they have.”

“How do they get to Rollin if we can’t?” he asks.

“Jared,” I say tightly. “I believe he’s working both sides. If I call Sheridan and tell him I have the cylinder, Rollin will find out and counteroffer. I’ll let the Chinese know what I’m doing and coordinate the timelines.”

Liam taps the table. “That only works if you’re right about Jared.”