Hard Wired Trilogy DeAnna Pearce (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📖

the past. I’m almost done with your cut and then we need to talk makeup.”

“Makeup?”

“Well a little more than just makeup. We have gel pads and other cosmetics to change the shape of your face to mess with the cameras.”

“You think that’s necessary?”

Harini pulled down a piece of hair that framed Ari’s face. “Yes, it’s necessary, but also sort of fun.”

Once her hair was finished, the blue black locks fell to her chin in waves. Slight dark blue highlights framed her face. It was closer to Ari’s original color but still took some getting used to.

“If you think this is a change, wait until I work on your face.” Harini’s smile edged on evil.

The days flew by with preparing for the trek. They procured several fake identities. Sketchy and Sue helped create fake fingerprints. Sketchy made them old school, as he called it. A printer drew the fingerprints onto light silicon material, and Sue then used a paintbrush to finish applying the final chemicals.

Before Sketchy packed them up, he held them up to the light. “Smooth as ice.”

“Like ice?” Ari asked.

“Yep. Smooth to the touch, but the fine details are etched in. Almost undetectable.”

“And you’re sure they’ll work?” Ari knew the security they had in her country, and she had never even tried to leave it on her own. It could only be more intense at a border.

“Promise.” He put them in an envelope and handed them to her.

“You also promise that coffee cures any sickness too.” Ari took the light envelope.

“And it does.” He placed a hand on his heart. “At least how I make it.” Then he winked and Ari wondered just what he placed in his coffee.

Sue walked back in, toweling off her hands. “Don’t worry. The others have used them before.”

Ari thanked them both, then went back to packing.

Friday, Ari woke before her alarm and hurried to get ready. She met Harini and Patrick in the garage loading their gear. Harini helped load her pack and stood with the two of them, next to the vehicle.

“Have everything?” Harini asked.

“You should know,” Ari said. “You helped me pack.”

“Yes. Yes, you do.” She looked more nervous than Ari. “I’d take your hair out of your ponytail. It’ll help cover yourself.”

“Okay.” Ari ran a hand through her hair. She did have on the heavy padded makeup Harini showed her how to use, and an extra pair of colored contacts that turned her eyes from brown to more of a green. It didn’t change her look too much, but enough to get through security. She thought it would be enough for Harini.

Ari reminded herself that Harini might have just as much at stake. All their lives were here with Patrick. Ari resolved to make this work, not just for her, but for all of them. “We’ll be okay.” She hugged Harini. “We’ll be back, promise.”

“I know.” Harini pulled back, then turned to Patrick. “Be safe.”

“We will. Take care of everyone while I’m gone. Don’t let Tricky work everyone into the ground.”

She gave a small laugh. “I’ll try.”

They climbed into the old Jeep. With a small wave to Harini, Patrick tried to turn over the ignition. Only a small click sounded. He swore and tried a couple more times. “Grab your gear,” he said, pulling out the key.

“What’s wrong?” Harini asked, still in the garage.

“Probably the starter. Can you tell Joe and Sketchy for me? We’ll take the motorcycle.” He reached for his bag and began securing it on the metal rack in back.

“Okay. Be safe.” Harini gave him one more look, a look full of emotion that he didn’t even see.

Ari wondered if there was something that she was missing between Harini and Patrick.

“You coming?” He turned to Ari.

“Yeah.” It amazed Ari that not only did they have a Jeep, even if it didn’t work, but several motorcycles and off-terrain vehicles. She knew Patrick was prepared. When she first got a tour of this place, he reassured her they were safe. He had a couple of safe houses with supplies, multiple ways to leave, and backups with their backups. The locations for the safe houses could only be triggered through certain means as well. She’d heard all this, but seeing it was different.

The seat extended for two people and Ari climbed on back, trying to give as much room as possible, but the length of the seat meant they were still touching. A light blush warmed her face and was glad she was behind him. Being so close to him shouldn’t feel so comfortable.

He turned his head to speak to her. “Ready?” With a short nod from Ari, he pulled onto the dirt path, forcing Ari to hold on tight.

It was hard to speak over the wind rushing in her ears, so she didn’t try. Holding on, she watched the landscape speed by. Sometimes, they slowed to maneuver over rocky hills. The path wasn’t clear cut, but the electronic map attached to the steering wheel kept Patrick on course.

He pulled off to the side of the road and clicked off the engine. “I thought we could get a drink and stretch for a moment. Our flight isn’t for a few hours. We have time.”

Ari climbed over, her muscles stiff from sitting for so long. Unpacking water bottles, she handed one to Patrick. An uncomfortable silence settled between them. Ari couldn’t help but wonder his motivation in doing all of this. After her history, she couldn’t help but doubt.

“What’s wrong?” He opened his water.

Ari shook her head, but before she could speak, he cut her off. “Please don’t say ‘nothing’.”

She laughed. “Okay. I just…” She struggled to put it into words that wouldn’t offend him. “Not that I’m not appreciative, but I wondered why you are doing this for me.” There was so much about him she didn’t know, like how he came by all this money.

“Is this about Tricky?”

“No. Just me with a history of trust issues.” She traced the edge of her water bottled.

“I know we don’t talk a