I Was Told It Would Get Easier(81)

John rang again, and this time he spoke first. “I just sent an email. Valentina is now a partner.”

“And Janet?”

“No, it’s too . . .”

Click. I started to giggle. “Why didn’t I do this earlier?”

Ten minutes later the phone buzzed again. It was a text from Valentina. “I just made partner, and so did Janet, what did you do?”

I called John. “Very impressive, John. I guess your powers of persuasion haven’t been underestimated. Now, how can I help you?”

“I need you to come back right away. I need your input on the deal.”

“I’m with my daughter. It can wait until Monday. I’ll look it over on the plane.”

“You’ve been with her a whole week! What are you even doing?”

I exhaled. “We’re catching up. I withdraw my resignation, send me the deal to look over, I’ll see you in a few days, don’t worry.”

I put the phone on the coffee table. “Pass me the headset, Rob. I feel like blowing away some bad guys.”





EMILY


There was Wi-Fi on the subway, amazingly. We got out to change trains at Times Square, and Casper checked social media again.

He frowned. “She’s going somewhere, I guess. She’s not at Grand Central anymore.”

“But she’s still posting?”

He nodded.

“Well, then she’s not arrested. Maybe she didn’t meet the contact yet.”

“Or maybe she’s not meeting them at all.” Casper was annoyed with me. Then his face fell. “Oh . . .”

Will peered over his shoulder. “Selfie. Captioned: Meeting the Man, looking good.”

Casper swallowed. “She’s changed from before. She’s wearing a dress.”

Chloe shook her head. “Why would she dress up to do something illegal? Why on earth would she post about it? I mean, I know you said she’s an obsessive poster, but come on. This doesn’t sound right to me.” She reached for Casper’s phone. “Can I?” She squinted at it. “She’s inside somewhere in this shot, but I can’t tell where.”

“Can’t you ask her where she is? Text her.”

“She’s not answering, I’ve been trying.” Casper was upset. “Maybe she’s going on a date. You know. With a boy.”

Will looked at me but said nothing.

“Wait,” said Chloe, “she’s at the Met. She posted a picture of the new fashion exhibit.” She checked the time. “It closes in an hour, let’s go. If we’re lucky we’ll get a northbound express to Eighty-Sixth.”

She started half running through the crowd, Casper close behind her. Will stared at me. “She knows the Met exhibits by heart?”

I shrugged. “She’s a New Yorker, maybe it’s a requirement, who knows?”

We hurried after her. I couldn’t tell if Will was still mad at me, and I really, really wanted to know.

We got lucky and leaped on an express as the doors were closing. The train was crowded, and I had to grab Will’s jacket to stay upright. He didn’t stop me, and there was a moment when he looked down at me and seemed about to say something. Then the brakes screeched and he turned away again. I have a pretty quiet life, let’s face it, and this whole week was starting to be a bit much. I suddenly wished my mom was there, and then felt dumb for wishing it. Why was being sixteen such a challenge for me? Everyone else was cool about their parents; I was such a loser.

The four of us pushed through the crowds at Eighty-Sixth Street and headed south, Chloe leading the way. The steps outside the Met were crowded with people leaving, arriving, and hanging out. It was like a party, and the air was filled with chatter in a dozen languages. I stared around and saw people my age everywhere, school tours like ours, a million backpacks and earbuds and cell phones.

“We’ll never see her,” said Will. “She might not even still be here.”

“There she is,” said Casper. And he was right. Eyes like a hawk, that kid.

Alice was standing on the sidewalk, talking to a man I’d never seen before. He was short and well dressed, holding a large yellow envelope and wearing dark glasses, despite the fact that the streetlights were already on.

“Crap,” I said, “who’s that?” I held up my phone and took a picture. “Wait, I’m going to ask my mom what to do.” I sent it.

The man was talking to Alice and she was nodding. She didn’t look worried; to be fair, she seemed relaxed and possibly even mildly bored. She reached for the envelope, and the guy jerked it out of reach, clearly explaining something.

“We have to stop her before she takes it,” said Casper. “The FBI must be close, they’re watching her.”

“Oh, so now you believe me?” I wasn’t happy about it. Part of me wanted to be right, but a bigger part of me was sad Alice was the cheater. She was many things, none of them super admirable, but this was going to really suck for her.

Suddenly, a car pulled up and a man in a dark suit got out.

“Shit,” said Will, “it’s the feds.”

Casper started running towards Alice, and the three of us weren’t far behind.

Casper was yelling as he went, and the FBI guy, Alice, and Envelope Man turned quickly. As Casper got close, the agent stepped in front of Alice and Envelope Man and held up his hands.