The Girl Who Dared to Think 2: The Girl Who Dared to Stand (The Girl Who Dared #2)(10)

Lacey opened her mouth, paused, and then shook her head. “Fine,” she said. “You’re right, we shouldn’t have even taken that. It was bad form on our part, and we’ll try to think of some way to reciprocate.”

“Deal,” I replied, breathing out quietly. I actually wasn’t sure where all of that had come from. I wasn’t the type to think so materialistically, but there it was. A rationale I hadn’t even considered before, but one that came spilling out as soon as Lacey admitted that she had taken something from us.

Truthfully, I was pleased with the way this conversation was going. If they were willing to strike a deal for something unknown in the future, then that meant we had a future. I just needed to know what that future was.

“So what’s this plan?” I asked, deliberately changing the subject. “How do you plan to get me and my friends off the hook after we’ve committed murder and conspiracy?”

“Well, your two friends… um… him and the young one…”

I looked where Strum was pointing and realized he meant Quess and, of course, Tian, while he continued to speak.

“They were never really on the Tower’s radar for this. We just grabbed them because they were with you. As such, they won’t even be brought up.”

“They will be cared for,” Lacey added, before I could even ask. “New identities and nets, placement in whatever department they want and are qualified for. I give you my word.”

I stared at my friends, thinking. Maddox and Eric were watching us closely from a few feet away, and I was certain both were ready to spring into action if things went wrong. Not that I thought they were going to anymore. Quess and Zoe, meanwhile, were distracting Tian right behind them, and Leo was standing the closest to me, watching our exchange in silence. I met his gaze, and then turned back to Lacey and Strum. If this could buy them some protection, and get the Knights off of us, it was worth it—if only so that we could hide in plain sight for a little while.

“What about Zoe and Eric?” I asked, nodding to them. “What’s their role in all this?”

“Victims…” Lacey trailed off and pulled a pad from the front of her orange coveralls. “It’s easier if you just read this. There isn’t a lot of time, and we’re about to be late for the council meeting.”

She held it out to me, and I took it and stared at the rectangular square. “What council meeting?” I asked slowly.

“Well, less of a council meeting, more of a trial. Yours and Mr. Farmless’s, to be exact.”

“A trial?” I sputtered. I looked around again and saw my fears echoed on all of my friends’ faces—except for Leo, who looked eerily delighted by the prospect—and turned back. “That’s your plan?”

“It is,” Strum said solemnly. “It’ll be much easier if you just—”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I have to stop you right there.” I took a deep breath and tried to ease some of the panic that was threatening to make me come apart and really lose it. An official trial presided over by the council was complete and utter lunacy. Scipio had been tampered with—they both suspected as much, but I knew it to be true. Even with Devon gone, I knew for a fact that there was someone else working on… well, whatever their plan with Scipio was. All it would take was for Scipio to render a judgment of guilty—which, if he was being controlled by Devon’s allies, he would! Surely, they didn’t think that with Devon gone, Scipio would fall right back into line!

My thoughts jumbled together, and I quickly began to sort them in order from most important to least, to explain to them why this wouldn’t work. But then Lacey looked at her wrist and shook her head.

“Whatever reservations you have, wait until you read the talking points we gave you. I’m sure your concerns will be addressed. Now, we have to go.”

And before I could really say anything, they turned to head out of the room.

“I hope you and Mr. Farmless are good liars,” Strum called as the door began to swing closed. “If not, just try to be as emotionless as possible. And practice!”

I was staring dumbly at the door, unable to process how quickly everything was moving, when it all suddenly clicked.

“Wait!” I managed.

But I was too late. The wheel squeaked as it spun around, sealing us in.

I stared at the door, alarmed and confused by their hasty departure.

“What’s on the pad?” Leo asked, his voice very close behind me. I practically leapt out of my skin and whipped around.

I gazed at him, while he looked at me expectantly. Then I reluctantly looked down at the pad in my hands, and exhaled.

“Right,” I murmured.

I straightened my back and squared my shoulders before tapping the screen. It immediately came on, and I clicked the only icon on the homepage.

It was a text file, with several bulleted talking points. I skimmed them for a few seconds, and then did a mental double take, blinking my eyes several times to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on me. I slowed down to read it again, my eyes gobbling up more and more of the words as their meaning and plan became clearer and clearer.

“What’s it say?” Leo asked eagerly.

I looked up at him. “A lot,” I replied dubiously, my eyes returning to the screen. I hoped they knew what the hell they were doing.