“I don’t know,” Park says back in the bedroom.
“It sounds made up.”
“It probably is.”
“Is your name made up?”
“I have a bunch of aliases.”
“Like what?” I thumb through the silverware drawer, which only has enough utensils for two.
His head pops out from the bedroom. “Like Parson Brown.”
I roll my eyes, moving on to the next drawer. “Is Sienna insinuating she’s in theprimeof her life? Or does it have something to do with prime numbers—her code name is 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19—”
“I get it.” Park’s words stop me from continuing.
“Or maybe she’s comparing herself to beef. She’s not USDA Choice beef or USDA Select beef. She’s USDAPrime.”
“It’s just a name.” He smirks as he comes into the kitchen. “You might be overthinking it.”
“Maybe.” I shrug, opening the cupboards under the sink. “What are we looking for anyway?”
He reaches his arm up, grazing his fingers over two bolt hooks attached to the ceiling above the front door. “We’re looking for the other half of the microchip or a clue to where it’s at.”
“How are you so sure it’s here?”
He steps back, keeping his eyes on the bolts. “Sienna had to have led me here for a reason.”
I come around the kitchen counter, leaning against the bar. His focus shifts and he moves to the couch, lifting the cushions and running his fingers along the lining.
“You’re so confident in your relationship with her.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You said yourself that you don’t really know her.”
“No, I said I’ve nevermether.” He places the cushions back in their spot and kicks the corner of the rug over in front of the couch. There’s one odd-looking board that doesn’t completely fit in with the wood flooring. Park bends down, jiggling the piece back and forth until it loosens and pops up. “It looks like Christmas came early.”
He pulls the other boards aside, revealing a metal cache of guns, weapons, and electronic gadgets that look like they came straight out of theMission: Impossiblemovies. We just need Benji to tell us how to work them all.
“Holy crap!” I hunch over him, getting a better look. “What the heck is she doing with all of that?”
He starts pulling out some of the guns. “Every operative has a collection like this somewhere in their house.”
“Do you have a collection like this?”
“Yeah, but Sienna’s is more impressive. I guess that’s to be expected since she started in field support. She’s going to know more than me about tech stuff and gadgets.” He leans down, feeling around the compartment to ensure he has everything. Then he places the boards back down and flips the rug over. “Honestly, though. I’d trade these guns in for the second computer chip.” His eyes scan the house. “We don’t have time to tear this place apart. There has to be something we’re missing.”
“What about a book?” I push off the counter and walk to the shelf. “Sienna sent the message to you in a book. Maybe that’s where she hid the second microchip.” My fingers travel along the spines until one book, in particular, catches my eye. I pull it out and hold it up for Park to see.
“Pig Breeds and Their Characteristics,” he reads, and I’ve never seen anyone move so fast. Park quickly stands, making his way to me. He tears off the book cover, and glued to the spine is a computer chip almost identical to the one Park has.
I smile big at him. “I solved the case! Move over Sienna Prime because there’s a new Nancy Drew in the house.” I shuffle around the front room doing some karate moves. In the middle of my roundhouse kicks, I notice Park staring at me. He’s watching me more closely than an Elf on the Shelf. And this isn’t just any stare. His blue eyes showlovebehind them, and I don’t know how I feel about that. I stop mid-karate chop and fidget with the bottom of my tank top. “What is it?”
His lips curve into a new smile full of astonishment and appreciation. “It’s just…” He shakes his head. “I've never met anyone like you and...” I shift my weight, uncomfortable about where this speech might be going. As if Park’s aware of my growing anxiousness, he shakes his head again. “Never mind. Let’s see once and for all what’s on these microchips.” He grabs his duffle bag from off the counter. “I have a laptop in here we can use.”
I plop down on the couch relieved, and a bit disappointed, Park didn’t say anything more. This already feels like a big moment. We don’t need to confess any feelings right now. After Park sees the information on the computer chips, the situation might change, and whatever he was about to say two seconds ago might not even be relevant anymore. He sits beside me on the couch, opening his computer.
