Page 45 of Sawyer’s Mistake

She nodded. “Did you?”

“I wasn’t looking for anything,” he lied. The pills felt heavy in his pockets.

“Right,” she said. “You know what I used to do for a living, right?”

He nodded wearily.

“I know when a man is lying to me,” she said and stood up, walking by him. “You don’t have to tell me. I already know what you took, anyway.”

He grabbed her wrist. She was so slim his fingers met easily.

“How about you? Show me what you put in your pocket, Alix.”

“It’s private,” she whispered.

“Nothing’s private anymore,” he argued. “Show me, or I’ll grab it myself.” She physically recoiled, and he hated himself for making her afraid.

Her hand shook as she opened the zipper and brought out a small elongated box with an image of a pink stick. Test de grossesse précoce. He didn’t need to understand French to understand what it was for.

He closed his eyes.

“Shit. Are you …”

“Not me,” she spat out. “I’m sterile as a mule. But one of your friends might be.” Her eyes shone in the semi-darkness.

“Eva.” He exhaled softly, realizing the implications of the matter.

She nodded.

“Here, put these in your bag in case I’m right,” she said, giving him several boxes of pills and some Plexiglas vials.

“I’m sorry, Alix,” he said. He reached out to touch her shoulder but she feinted and moved away.

“You don’t have to worry, I’m not going to tell anybody what I saw,” she said. “If there’s one thing girls like me know how to do, it’s how to keep a secret.”

He staggered back as if she’d slapped him.

Chapter 19

Saoirse

Saoirse watched from one of the factory windows on the ground floor as the sky darkened, until only shadows remained.

Behind her, Eva rested on the couch, looking pale and drained. She’d thrown up twice in the afternoon and had been unable to stomach any dinner. Saoirse worried her bottom lip. Something was wrong with her friend. Every passing minute, her unease grew, until she thought she felt she might be sick herself, but she had to remain strong for Eva, at least until the others came back.

Finally, a shadow emerged from the darkness, like a centaur. She recognized Prado and Alix immediately, riding a solar cycle.

Where did they find that?

The solar-powered bikes, designed with small roofs that could power the bikes for long distances, were a luxury item. Saoirse didn’t know many people who’d been able to afford them.

She ran to open the door.

“You’re back!” she said, ushering them in quickly. “Forget the solar cycle. You can pick it up later. I’ve been so worried. There’s something very wrong with Eva. We need to get her help.”

Prado and Alix exchanged a quick look.

“What? Did you find something out there?” Saoirse asked, panicked.