Page 28 of Dead and Gone

"Whose idea was a ransom? Because adding blackmail to the theft could land you in trouble, Kai."

"Ransom?" Kai's genuinely surprised. Hmm. I look at his friend, whose face is also covered in confusion, and the girl's large brown eyes grow wider.

"Someone blackmailed the curator for money in return for the mole," I say. "You."

No. These kids stole the mole as a prank—as evidenced when Kai's thoughts drift to me again:Why didn't we think to do that?

"Oh, dear. It would appear one of your gang is more mercenary than the three of you. Do you think they'll share the proceeds?"

"That asshole!" exclaims TJ. "Dale said he'dlostthe mole."

Kai drags a hand across the top of his head. "We were gonna take the mole back before we got into trouble. The curator guy came to school yesterday, and I heard him shouting at the headmaster. Sounded like a right lunatic. Now Mr. Spade saysif the mole isn't returned, we're all in detention for a week until someone owns up."

"Dale couldn't find it. He thought his dog had stolen the mole from his bag and chewed it up," adds TJ.

"The dog ate my homework?" Leif says to himself and chuckles. "You dumbass."

"Show them the note, Corrie," says TJ, waving a hand at her. "Someone left a note in Corrie's bag—if we don't return the mole to the museum, one of us will get hurt. Why would we blackmail someone if we're being threatened?"

"Back to the museum?" A threat from the curator? I hold a hand out. "Let me read the note."

"You can't. I threw the note away." Corrie examines her fingernails, cheeks tinging pink. She's hiding something because I can only pick up a repeated swear word from her mind.

I look over my shoulder and beckon Grayson and Rowan to join us. "Hasone of you gotten hurt?" I ask the group, turning back.

"What's happening?" asks Rowan as he approaches.

"Kai stole the mole and either someone stole the mole from him or one of the gang is hiding it from his fellow thieves." I press my lips together. "And these three are not the people who sent the ransom message."There goes my plan to lure Kai somewhere quiet and terrify him into returning the exhibit to us. "And another individual threatened their lives."

"No. Threatened to hurt, not kill," puts in Corrie in a small voice.

"Possiblykill. The death rate in this townisabove the national average." Corrie attempts to hide an alarmed noise, which comes out as a strangled choke. I nod at Kai. "Have you seen Dale recently?"

"Why?" asks TJ.

"Becausehehas stolen your mole."

Corrie leans across the table. "I tried calling Dale this morning, but he isn't answering."

"Probably hungover," mutters Kai.

"I suggest you find Dale and inform him not to continue his blackmail attempt," I say. "You could cause yourself injury."

"You think the curator threatened the gang?" asks Leif in disbelief.

"That's a possibility. You mentioned he visited the school and went psycho," says Grayson.

"You need to find Daleandthe mole. Return the mole to us and we'll return it to the curator, no questions asked," says Leif.

"And no loss of life or limb," I add.

They look at me warily when I remain stony-faced.

"Didyouthreaten us with that note left in my bag?" blurts Corrie.

"Good grief," I retort. "I would never set foot in a human high school again, and ransom notes aren't my style.Thisis my style."

"Interrogation and intimidation?" asks Kai. "Yeah, we know."

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