Page 224 of Johnny

“Perfect,” she says. “Now. Would you like us to give you a lift home? Or would you prefer to call

your friend, Logan, to pick you up? Because we’re confiscating your yacht as evidence.”

Jesus Christ. Well, that wasn’t subtle. I’m glad there’s nothing on that yacht to incriminate us. They

won’t find any trace of that little girl because she was never there.

But Logan is going to be pissed when he finds out he won’t get his payback.

I brush her thinly-veiled threat off as just a warning, decide I can deal with the fallout later, and

say, “Logan, thanks.”

Because we’re done here. And we’re still alive.

And just as I think that my words to Megan two nights ago come to mind. You should believe me

because you lied to me. You set me up. And you’re still alive.

I glance up at my mother but she’s busy snapping off orders to Samuel about something.

Is this how she shows me her love? By letting us go home? Not free, but freer than we were.

Taking Megan’s secret with us?

Does she know about it? Did she just cover for us?

She turns back to me and smiles as she points to the folio. “Did you sign it?”

“Oh. Was I supposed to sign it?”

“You are. There’s a pen—”

“I see it,” I say. Spotting the pen in the folio’s crease.

“Did you read it?” she asks. And when I glance up at her she’s got one eyebrow raised.

“I see what it says. It all seems fair.” I pick up the pen, sign the document, close the folio, and hand it to her across the table. Then I spy the Akkadian cuneiform version off to the side. “Can I keep this

one? It was a pretty cool effort and I’m kinda in to this stuff, you know.”

Her face brightens as she tucks the folio into a leather bag that was sitting at her feet. “I do know.

But it’s just the Epic of Gilgamesh.”

“You must think you know me pretty well.”

“As well as one can in my position.”

“I wouldn’t count on that.” I fold the cuneiform contract up and stick it into a side pocket of my

pants.

“No.” She sighs. “I suppose you’re right. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you know me,

either. Now. If you’ll excuse me, I have to be going.” She directs her gaze to Megan. “Samuel will be

your father’s nurse for the foreseeable future. Then he will take your place in the lab. I’m not sure