Desert Dark Read Online Free

the false bottom she’d installed was properly secured. The only plus to living alone was the guarantee of privacy.
Let’s hope my new roommate isn’t as nosy as the last one
. Satisfied her secrets were safe, Libby closed the drawer, smoothed her skirt and flipped open her political science textbook. She had no intentions of reading right now but she didn’t want to seem as though she was sitting around waiting for Nadia Riley to arrive, which she was. It made her uncomfortable, being at loose ends like this. No schedule, no plan. She looked at the clock on her nightstand. Just after noon.
It’ll be hours before she gets here
.
    Libby went back to the bathroom to recheck the flowers.
And I’m so glad I did
.
Look at this one! It’s like a raccoon’s been gnawing on the petals
. She lifted the wastepaper basket to the vase and carefully removed the offending stem. She wiped the counter again and returned to her desk.
    I probably should’a washed my hands while I was up
.
    Libby slid her fingers under her thighs and frowned.
You don’thave to. Those wipes are clean. They’ve got bleach in ’em. Doesn’t get any cleaner than bleach. Just don’t think about it
.
    To distract herself, she read the titles on her bookshelf out loud. “
The Making of a Navy Seal, Unarmed Combat, Diplomacy in a Terrorist World
—oh, for heaven’s sake,” she said, as she rushed to the bathroom to wash her hands.

6
NADIA
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
    Two days after Marcus Sloan’s visit, Nadia flew into Phoenix. She hadn’t told anyone about the Academy. Her mom would call the front office tomorrow, let them know about the transfer. Word would get out that she’d been recruited to a boarding school in Arizona. Matthew would be sick with envy. Paige would wonder if he was jealous because they chose Nadia over him, or if he was sulking because he missed her.
    She tried to ignore the flash of sadness. This was probably the most exciting thing that’d ever happened to her. She wanted to share it with someone.
    Knock it off. Don’t let them ruin this
.
    Nadia followed the other passengers to baggage claim. A man stood to the side, holding a sign printed with her name. He eyed the women, moving from one to the next, until his gaze settled on Nadia.
    â€œThat’s me.” She smiled and pointed to the sign.
    He didn’t return her smile. “May I see your ID?”
    â€œOh, sure.” Nadia dug through her carry-on and offered her passport.
    The driver studied her picture. “What is your mother’s maiden name?”
    â€œAzar.”
    â€œAnd your recruiter?”
    â€œMr. Sloan?”
    â€œThe name of the hotel where he stayed?”
    â€œUm, the Bridgeport? In Arlington, I think.”
    Apparently satisfied, he returned her ID and smiled. “Welcome to Phoenix.”
    Nadia laughed. “Do you get many impostors?”
    â€œLet’s get your bags.”
    A blast of searing heat assaulted her as they left the terminal. They drove north, leaving the beige city behind, into the rocky foothills of a low mountain range. Dusty stretches of desert replaced shopping malls; gated communities faded into thick stands of sage-green cacti.
    Nadia’s stomach hurt.
It’s like any other new school. I’ll be fine. I always am
. She sighed and rested her head on the seat-back.
But what if I’m not? What if no one likes me?
    Keep whining, Nadia, and no one will
.
    After an hour, the driver turned onto a winding dirt road, barely wide enough for the car. Ahead, a massive sand-colored wall stretched across their path, extending in both directions. A security booth policed the iron gate that blocked the road.
    An armed guard stepped forward. He scanned the driver’s eyes with a laser gun and nodded them through.
    Nadia’s stomach tightened. “What was that?”
    â€œA retinal scan.”
    â€œThey don’t know you by