Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Computers.
Computers on computers, next to more computers everywhere I looked, and all of them running at once, casting a cool, blue light that pierced the gloom. He didn’t have posters on the wall or a coffin next to the dresser, but little peeks into Wilder teased me in the ornate snow globe on his nightstand, the stack of science fiction novels, and blue. Blue comforter, blue carpet, and blue desk chair.
I filed it all away, but none of it was the sight to see. A full-size pillow-top bed lay in the middle of the room, enclosed in a metal cage.
“A Faraday cage.”
“It’s for—”
“—blocking electromagnetic fields.”
I saw his pleased grin out of the corner of my eyes.
“Exactly.”
“Wow, I didn’t know they made these bed-sized.” I went in and hissed, rubbing my arms. Cool wasn’t the word. “It’s below freezing in here.”
“With all the processors going, it’s got to be cold so they don’t overheat.”
Wilder opened the cage and grabbed a fleece off his bed. Draping it over my shoulders, he drew me in, and my breath out. I froze as he rubbed my arms, popping goose bumps down my body that had nothing to do with the temperature.
“Better?”
“M-much better.” I cleared my throat. “So, what did you want to show me?”
“That screen behind you.”
His warmth, and touch, disappeared. Wilder grabbed his desk chair and moved it in front of a screen nestled between three bigger ones. He gestured for me to sit.
“Let’s see. It looks like a banking website.”
“It’s Giovanni’s account.” Wilder traced a line down the withdrawals. “That’s the last hour. He, or his parents, or the bank employees they’re cursing out right now, have tried six times to disturb that zero balance. Every time they do, the money automatically transfers into a separate account. So no, Luna. He’s not going to feel the loss for a night. It’ll be weeks before they sort this mess out.”
“Wilder, you’re kidding me,” I cried. “What’s the separate account?”
“A charity fund for a women’s shelter.”
“Oh man, that hug is coming and it’ll be way longer than five seconds.”
He chuckled. “Then I shouldn’t tell you that I’ve got this program running for all five of them, draining the money out of every account in their name. They can still use Daddy’s credit cards, of course, but now they know.”
“That someone is watching, waiting... and coming.”
“Did Natale see you at the restaurant?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “Saylor and Katie got into a knock-down, drag-out, and I ended up with ice water to the face. I had zero chance of flying under the radar.”
“You can’t be anywhere near these guys for the next couple of days, Sinclair. They can think you’re behind this all they want, but they can’t prove it. Not if you’re never around when shit goes down.”
“I know the plan and I agree with it. I just couldn’t resist checking to see if one of them would be at Toussaint’s tonight. Katie demanded I take her to dinner and it felt like fate.” I glimpsed a name on the screen to my left. “Hey, did that say Branlon?”
“Most likely.” Wilder turned it for me to see. “This program monitors the communications of the group calling themselves the Royals.”
“Monitors their communications? You’re spying on the Royals?”
“Surveilling.”
“Another way of saying spying.” I squinted at the string of information. “How long have you been doing this?”
“I started it recently. I have a theory that the Royals are also members of a secret underground society that’s controlling the student body. They know more than they’re saying.”
“I bet they do, but what’s the secret part?” I asked, lips twisting. “From what I see, they do their worst right out in the open.”
Sighing, Wilder shut off the monitor. “I’m sorry, Luna. I should’ve said that sooner.”
I gave him a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I know you’re sorry about Winter’s death. You guys did care. You’ve proven that—”
“No.” Something in his tone silenced me. “I’m sorry for... not seeing how lost she was. I’m sorry I didn’t stop her.”
“Wilder, why would you say that?”
“Because,” he burst out. “All these programs, subroutines, and feeds monitoring every inch of this campus, and I couldn’t see that she needed help.” Wilder balled his fists, glancing away. “I, more than anyone, owe you and your family a debt. I don’t want your thanks or praise, Luna, because I don’t deserve it.”
I shook, lids welling. “Winter didn’t just save you from the fire, did she? You two were friends.”
Wilder dropped his head, the shadows lengthening across his face. “She was like you,” he rasped, breaking something inside me. “She never called me crazy.”
My palm warmed his wrist, traveling up his arm, turning his gaze to my touch, then to me. I slid around him, molding to Wilder’s body, burying my face in his sweet-scented neck—my tears dampening his skin.