The Flight of the Silvers (Silvers #1)(99)

Hannah removed the drip-stained towel from Amanda’s shoulders, then studied her reaction. “I did the best I could.”

“What? No, you did great, Hannah. It’s perfect. I’m just upset about the reasons behind it.”

“Well, it’ll work. I doubt anyone who’s looking for you will recognize you now.”

“That’s really all that matters. Everything else is . . . I just need to get used to it.”

Amanda bounced a mirrored gaze at Mia. “So what do you think?”

Mia had peeked up from her journal many times to watch the recoloring in progress, this strikingly cozy endeavor between women. Having grown up in a house full of brothers, it was strange for her to witness the feminine rituals of siblings.

“Looks good,” she listlessly replied. “You two finally look related.”

Hannah tossed her rubber gloves in the sink. She was too tired to color her own hair. Too upset. She plopped herself onto her bed, sending Zack’s drawing fluttering down to the floor. She was sick of thinking about the bothersome man in the picture.

On the flip side of Peter’s letter, Future Mia had reserved some words for a new orbiting threat.

I’m not even sure how to explain Evan Rander. He’s from our world, but he acts like he’s been here forever. He knows us all disturbingly well, and yet none of us know him. We still have no idea why he hates us so much. He always seems to find us when we’re alone and at our most vulnerable. He likes to twist the knife, especially on Hannah.

Once Evan’s identity was uncovered in retrospect, Zack worked with Hannah to provide a composite sketch of the smiling cowboy who’d greeted them at the side of the van.

“It makes no sense,” said Hannah. “What could we have done to make him so angry? What could I have done?”

Mia shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s just crazy. If I had spent the last six weeks wandering alone out here, I might have lost my mind too. I probably would have slit my wrists.”

The sisters traded a dark look in the mirror. Amanda tensely wrung her fingers.

“I don’t know who this guy is. Right now, I don’t care. We have bigger problems.”

“Easy for you to say,” Hannah growled. “He hasn’t singled you out.”

Amanda turned her sharp gaze on her. “Do you want to trade places? Because I’d rather have a stalker chasing me than a team of federal agents.”

“Hey, fun fact: the feds are after me too.”

“And this Evan guy is following all of us! Why do you . . .” Amanda closed her eyes and waved a tense palm. “I can’t handle a fight with you right now.”

“Then don’t start one.”

Amanda tightened her towel wrap and shot to her feet. Mia watched with puzzlement as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

“Okay, what just happened?”

Hannah threw herself back onto the mattress, throwing a dismal gaze at her scarred wrists. “It’s nothing. Old wounds.”

“Will she be okay?”

“She’ll be fine,” the actress replied, with dripping venom. “She’s a rock, that one.”

Mia returned to her journal, her thoughts twisting with unease. She wondered if she dodged a bullet by not having sisters. All things considered, she preferred the way men fought.

—

Zack and David crossed midnight like frigid old spouses, puttering away in parallel beds. While David browsed a local paper, Zack drew an elaborate pen sketch of Bugs Bunny. There were only a handful of people who’d recognize the poor rabbit now. Zack wasn’t even sure David was one of them.

The boy glanced with concern at the stack of glossy blue cash on Zack’s nightstand. He checked the door to the bathroom, where Theo had been showering for forty long minutes.

“Maybe we should put that money in a safer place,” David suggested.

“What, you mean a hedge fund?”

“No. I mean perhaps I should give it to Mia or one of the sisters.”

“Oh, you’re just hoping to catch them in their undies, you scamp.”

“Zack, I think you know what my issue is.”

Zack did know, and he was trying not to get angry about it. “What do you have against Theo anyway?”

David lowered his voice. “Nothing. I’m sure he’s a fine person. But at this stage of his alcoholic recovery, he’s a liability to all of us.”

“That liability got shot trying to save me.”

“I’m not asking you to expel him from the group. Just hide the cash.”

“Fine. You asked. And I’m saying no. Now drop it.”

They languished in icy silence for several minutes. Zack finished his sketch and let out a loud exhale.

“Look, I’m as cynical as the next guy. Normally you wouldn’t have to tell me to be nervous about someone. The problem is that we have too many problems already. Rebel and his people are looking to kill us. The Deps want to lock us away. God only knows what the Pelletiers are after. And now we have some twisted little creep following us around like our own personal Gollum. Given all that, I’m in a rather desperate need to trust the people in my tent. Do you get that?”

“I do,” said David. “Just as long as you understand my concern.”