Chapter 10

Number of times Liz woke up when she was not supposed to: 5. Number of times she forgot something lethal happened: 9. Amount of time Jonas told me the short term memory loss was part of the gas she inhaled: 1 (because once is enough you only need to be convinced once) Number of hours Liz slept: 13. Amount of time Mairi discussed, more like argued really, with Grant and Jonas: 5 hours and counting. . Anyways, it became a popular past time playing poker (also used as a technique to tell who's lying). Not that it matters Liz then turned the game into twenty one questions.

"So Mairi, what can't we tell about from just looking?" Liz felt the need to know, incurable curiosity.

"what do you wanna know, family, friends or plain old weird shi**."

"Anything you like." ushered Jonas as he shuffled his cards. I listened closely because I know so much yet so little about my friend.

"Well, you know the oh-so rich and powerful family that is, by far, better liked than Obama himself, the McHenry's. You know Macey?" Aware that she has our attention she accommodates her cards. "She's my cousin."

"Oh! Oh no! That is just wrong!" Zach exclaimed

"Oh I'm sorry! Do you know her? Tell me something about you, all of you." At this everyone turned thoughtful. It was Grant's turn to look at me expectantly. He wants to know if he can tell Mairi that we are spies/assassins. I half nodded, come on who's she going to tell.

"We're assassins. The ladies are spies."

"Yeah," She's scoffing laughter. "Right and I are the spawn of James Bonds. Come on, so Jonas is a badass hacker that doesn't mean ya'll are spies. It just makes him a criminal."

A flash of crimson red blew up in his face. "Hacking is a survival strategy."

"No. It's computer terrorism. You're a technology terrorist, a tech-rorist, cyberpunk!"

In the end she snickers, we laughed, at her drama, and then stick her tongue out. Mairi doesn't believe us. Probably for the best anyway because if something backfire not that it will, she can lie by telling the truth. Zach cracks up and says that she needs mental attention with his smirk. Liz scolded him in a Madame Dabney fashion. This is the most fun I've had, despite the circumstances because I don't have to think for the first time in my life.

"No worries, I do need help in more ways than one."

"I like her she's quirky." Liz says jumpily.

"Before I forget, tomorrow we're going to London right?" I ask. I get nod in response. "I was thinking maybe we could talk to Bex's parents to lend us their flat."

"Aren't they with the Queen or on a mission tomorrow?"

"We'll get there early." Zach said. "Right?"

"Keep up the charade guys, it's cute." Mairi taunts making a face. We would need a late flight for tonight. Liz and Jonas type away on their computers and show me the flights they had arranged. I'm gone.

5:00 A.M. Next Day

"Are you sure they're here?"

"Yes, Liz." I said. I knocked on the door and waited while I rehearsed the cover story. We can't go and merely tell parents that their daughter is missing. Not that I enjoy lying to others. The fall breeze blew through the nearby window. I tugged my coat, Zach old one, tighter. Next, one of the Baxter's opened the door, Bex's dad Abe.

"Cammie, Elizabeth." He pulls me in for a hug; ushering me and Liz inside. "How have you been?"

We replied in unison. "Fine, where's Mrs Baxter?"

"She headed out early but this isn't a social call now. What would it be?"

"We have this Cove Ops project." Liz got cut off by Abe. "Are you not in Advanced Organic Chemistry?"

"Well yes but we're working a joint project and we need a place to stay. So, um, I was wondering if we could stay here." I asked. I have an eerie feeling that we are going to get caught.

He said nothing. He washed down his coffee and cleared the counter. I'm starting to think he is going to say no. The story doesn't sound believable anymore. I drummed my finger against the wall nervously until he answered. Liz stood there watching as if it were too much for her.

"Of course, I'll be out anyway in India, foreign affairs." He explained. "I have to get going. There are no spares so just pick the lock. Have a productive day."

I breathed a sigh of relieve. Once the door was shut Liz squealed and told me to call the guys which I dialed my phone.

"Hey Zach, you guys can come up now."

Filler Chapter R&R