Hello dear readers of the Gallagher girl series. I've checked my traffic and most people who read this only read one chapter. a) there is more than one chapter. b) if you don't like this chapter keep reading, it gets better(or at least i think it does) the chapters get shorter, sweeter, and a bit deeper.

Whether you like or dislike this please review anyones writing can use work and I would greatly appreciate it. Enjoy.

Chapter 1

I walked down the street carefully. I won't say which street in which city in case someone from the Circle finds this for the safety of those I care about. Anyway I was walking down the street when I noticed him. Standing in front of a video store was Zach. Zach Goode. The boy whose mother wanted me for some reason unknown to me so far in all my explorations. Or at least at that point.

Turning on my heel, planning to join a group of students there to explore our nation's history, or at least that was on their t-shirts. But as I was turning, I saw Zach turn and gesture for me to follow him. Keeping my distance, I did just that, I followed him for several blocks until he stopped in an alley.

"Hey Gallangher Girl."

"Zach, what are you doing here?"

"Same thing you are, looking for answers."

" B-but you're mom's in the middle of it . . ."

"You're mom's part of the C.I.A. Do you know everything she does?" I saw his point, how many times had I had to spy on my mother to get information. We'll just say a lot.

"I see." There was a silence that followed that wasn't awkward, more expectant, anticipating for the other to make the first move. Finally I had to say, "I've missed you."

"I have to." HE stepped toward me and put his hands behind my back pulling me toward him. He leaned closer . . .

"Awwwww, look at the love birds all together again," a cold female voice cut in. We both turned at once to see Jennet Goode standing at one end of the alleyway and a white unmarked van was driving up the other end. "We haven't come to take Cammie just yet Zach honey so don't get scared. We've come to offer a trade." I opened my mouth to curse at her in the 14 languages I speak but she interrupted. "Oh don't curse at me just yet Cameron dear, you need to see what we're offering."

"She's not interested," Zach stated tersely as if trying to keep his voice steady. "She will never be interested in anything from you."

Okay, that was new. Yeah, Zach was protective of me but never that protective. His mom started to speak again.

"Oh, she'll be interested. Turn and see what's in the van darling. It's a gift just for you." I turned instinctively and gasped. In the door at the back of the van was someone I hadn't seen in a long time. Someone I thought was dead. My father.

"Hey squirt," he said his voice weak and filled with pain. His head was hanging down and bruises covered his face and arms. He was wearing a torn and ragged t-shirt and pants. He was covered in dirt.

"It's not him," Zach said. "It's a man who looks like him. He has plastic surgery or is wearing a disguise or something. That man is not your father." He was trying to sound reassuring but there was a layer of doubt underneath.

Zach's mom walked over to my dad. "Could I do this to a man in a disguise and have him still be intact?" She punched him in the face. My father grunted. "Could surgery or technology replicate her fathers voice?"

"It's me squirt," he muttered, "but just because it's me doesn't mean you have to give yourself in." I stared in horror unsure. The only thing I was sure of in that moment was Zach's firm grip on me.

"Do you remember that game we used to play when you were little with all little red people among the black ones?" I only nodded, now knowing this was in fact my father because the Circle agents looked at him like he was crazy. The game was one we had played whenever mom wasn't home. There would be groups of people in groups named after agencies made of black and red people. I'd had to memorize the red peoples names. Those had been the traders. I got a point for each one I named correctly. I still knew the names.

"Bring him here," said Jennet said. The brutes holding back my dad literally dragged him next to me. Jennet pulled out a polaroid camera. "Don't you want a picture of the family reunion?" Before any of us could respond she snapped the picture. The photo slid out of the slot and Jennet wrote something on the back. "Here," she handed the photo to me and continued, "better make a choice quickly or you won't see him again." She turned and yelled to the guards, "Load him in the truck! She ran to the end of the alley and jumped in the truck. Turning around she waved and said, "Good bye little darlings!"and the van drove away.

I looked at the back of the photo she'd handed me. It read:

Come to Rome in three days. The Colosseum. Midnight.

If you don't come your father dies.

I looked up at Zach. Evidently, he had read the note over my shoulder. He looked into my eyes and I saw guilt in them. Jerking away from me, he let out a frustrated scream. "This is all my fault," he shouted, banging his fist against the wall. "If I hadn't met with you they wouldn't have found! Mom's agents have been following me for weeks! I should've run as soon as I saw you! Damn it! I should run now!" He looked like a crazy person, hitting everything in reach. I reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Zach please," I said my voice cracking. "I need help to bring them down. I need you."

"You don't even trust me, why would you want my help?"

"Because you're the only one beside me who could get close to them without being hurt. Please Zach, I need you," I pleaded with everything I had. Tears were filling my eyes and Zach noticed. He leaned in and enveloped me in his arms.

"Okay," he whispered in my ear. " I'll help you Chameleon. I'll help you Gallagher Girl." And I weeped like I hadn't in front of anyone in a long time, but in Zach's arms I was safe. Despite what I knew about him, about his family, about everything, in Zach's arms I was home.