Page 432

~~Holiday Special (Day 3/7, Page 2/6)~~
Gina laughed. <“Don’t worry, I remember you. In fact, I’ve been expecting your call for a while. Where are you?”>

“I’m in Lorent. On foot. Please tell me you can help me fix that.”

<“What’s the nearest town?”>

She turned to the old man. He was resting on the sofa now. “Hey, what town is the ambulance coming from?”

He groaned at her but said, “Linkerton.”

“Which hospital?”

“There’s only one clinic.”

“Thanks. You get that, Gina?”

<“Yeah. Let me call Hector real quick and put him en route to the Linkerton clinic. I’ll call you right back.”>

She waited, rocking the chair back and forth. The motion of it made her contemplate a nap then and there, but Gina called back before she drifted off too far.

<“Okay. He’s on his way. So tell me. How’ve you been? I’m guessing terrible.”>

“That’s pretty accurate. What about you?”

<“Oh, I’m doing just fine. Spying on Abolish. Learning all their secrets.”>

Lynnette blinked. “What?”

<“I planted listening devices all over Belgrant Castle.”>

“Are you serious?”

<“Yep. Don’t worry. It’s super fun and in no way terrifying.”>

“You don’t have anyone there to protect you? Or is that what Hector’s been up to?”

<“Oh, that’s right. You don’t know.”> And as Gina explained Hector’s circumstances, her tone became considerably less jovial.

Lynnette could hardly believe it. That timid guy had become the most wanted criminal in the country? She wondered if he’d even be the same person when she saw him again.

Soon, the ambulance arrived, and Lynnette had to hang up the satellite phone in order to hitch a ride on it. The clinic in Linkerton wasn’t particularly far, and she ended up waiting around for another half hour before Hector rode into the parking lot on his silver motorcycle.

Apart from his black riding jacket, he didn’t seem so different. As he pulled off his helmet, he offered her a meek smile, but after a moment, it spoiled into a look of confusion.