FIFTY FIVE

If I don't return Poppy to her, hundreds of children will be killed.

I dropped my phone on the counter and stared at it for a minute, thinking about what she had meant.

It's not like she knows I'm her daughter. She only knows me as my male counterpart, even with her hackers, who can access my background records because there are none. Once you are joined in the Dagger program, you are listed as "nonexistent." We are only given our code name.

I closed my eyes and thought of a way to handle the situation before tomorrow night.

Opening my eyes, I grab my phone and speed-dial the number.

"Hello?" Greeting in a chorus tone.

"Pete, it's-"

"Terry!!" I pull my phone away from my ear as he screams. "Oh my gosh, I know that sexy tone anywhere. How long has it been since we talked? Five years? Three? Hmmm..."

I shake my head. "It's only been two years."

"Ah yes, a two...years..." he stays quiet for a second, then causes an outburst. "TWO YEARS! I didn't get your call after that. That day when yo