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his ear. “All clear. Package delivered, we’re out.” Then he snapped the phone shut and turned to my Dad. “Ted, flawless extraction.”
    Dad gestured with his head and a window between the driver’s seat and the backseat slowly rose, leaving the two of us in privacy. I hadn’t seen him for months. Where he’d once had a dusting of gray, his whole head now was covered with it. I was about to say something about the short beard and nicely trimmed mustache when he pulled the fake hair off of his face!
    â€œWe don’t have much time,” he said. He threw off his hoodie and revealed a black suit jacket and tie. “Before I leave, I want to talk to you about Lucas Drake.”
    â€œ What?”
    Luke was the last thing I thought my dad would even know about. “Dad, where have you been? And what’s going on with the FBI? And this disguise, you—”
    â€œI’m being sought by every law enforcement agency in the country, but I can’t explain it all in the few minutes we have.” He took hold of my hands.
    â€œWhat are you talking about? Just take me with you,” I said.
    â€œIt’s far too dangerous. You’re safer with George and Charlotte.” He tapped on the window and the guy in the front tapped back.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Dad?” I heard a shrill tone in my voice that didn’t sound like me.
    â€œWhen your mom got sick, I couldn’t just let her die. I made a deal with the government.”
    â€œWhat? What kind of deal?”
    The window slid down a fraction and the passenger-seat man said, “Two minutes out.” Then the window went up again.
    â€œWhat does the government have to do with Mom’s sickness?” I asked.
    He sighed. “Let’s just say they withheld access to a potential cure.”
    â€œYou don’t make sense.” I felt tears coming. “You didn’t even go to her funeral. You’re a criminal!” I shrieked. “Why didn’t you just steal the cure?”
    â€œThat’s what they claim I did.” He clamped his fists together in his lap.
    The vehicle came to a stop in a rural area. Dad said, “This kid who claims to be Lucas Drake. What do you know about him?”
    â€œWhat does he have to do with this?” I asked.
    Dad frowned.
    â€œDad, you have to tell me more!”
    â€œI’m not sure if he has anything to do with this. I don’t like him being near my little girl.”
    â€œAre you watching me?” My heart fell to my toes, and a splatter of bright red mortification lit up my body. “You’re putting yourself in jeopardy because I like a boy?”
    â€œNo, I did what I did to save your mother, and that’s all I can tell you right now.” He put his face in his hands and mumbled. “I need to keep you safe.”
    â€œDad, I don’t understand a word you’re saying. I want to go with you.”
    â€œI’m a patriot . . . I was a patriot,” he said.
    â€œYou’re talking in circles.”
    â€œStay away from Lucas Drake . . . and all boys, for a while.”
    â€œWhat if I like Luke?”
    â€œOne more reason to stay away from him.” Dad opened the door just as a helicopter landed in the field adjacent to the road. I pulled him back into the car.
    â€œWhat is all this? Dad, who are you?”
    â€œBea, I promise you’re better off with George and Charlotte, and you’ll hear from me real soon. Just keep a distance from this boy, until I can fix this.” He kissed me on the cheek and then ran toward the helicopter.
    The window between the seats opened all the way and the man in the passenger seat handed me an old-fashioned tape recorder. “Give this to the FBI when they arrive. It’s a recording of this conversation—for proof that you were taken against your will and not complicit. Also, your Uncle George called the police and told them you were