Page 42 of Mayflower

I pick up my phone and look at the missed phone call. A long number—a satellite one.

“Weird,” I say.

No one harasses me anymore. Not since my secret spilled out.

There is a message from the same number, and when I open it, my hand goes over my mouth in shock.

Unknown: Beautiful girl, I’m coming back.

Is this someone’s joke?

“Is it…” I can’t even finish the sentence. I dial the number, and it right away drops. I dial again. It drops.

Dad notices. “What is it?”

“I got a message. I think it’s from Raven.”

He sets his spoon down and straightens, staring at me.

My heart thuds like crazy as I dial Archer. The second he picks up, I talk. “I think it’s Raven. Archer, I think Raven just tried to call me.”

“I just got a phone call from him,” Archer says curtly.

The news hits me like lightning. “From… from Raven? Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

My eyes dart to Dad, who stares at me intently. “And?”

“And he said he’ll call back. He’s in Port Mrei, Maddy. He’s alive. But I think there’s some trouble.”

“How did he call?”

“Satellite phone. He’s alive, Maddy. He is. But I have to call you back?—”

My dad lunges for my phone across the table, yanks it out of my hand, and puts it on speaker. “What was the prefix on the number he called from?” my dad says calmly, setting his fist on his hip.

My heartbeat spikes so high that Raven would’ve gotten an emergency alert on his phone if he had one.

“813,” Archer says.

My father’s chin tilts in satisfaction as he gets up. “Mine.”

“What does that mean?”

“My guy. The signal is from my satellite.”

I stare at him. “You have a satellite?” I say at the same time as Archer.

“In collaboration with the Middle East, yes.” He motions with his fingers for Artiom to approach. “Mr. Crone, the phone is one of my men’s in Port Mrei. If it was Raven who called, then my man found him.”

“It sounded like they were in trouble.”

“All my satellite phones have GPS trackers. I will check with my IT guy. I will be at the Center in five. You have a cyber operations specialist?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We need him. We will locate the phone. I bring my men. You get your team ready. We are sending them to extract Mr. Levi.”

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