I shake my head, so he continues.

“The official story in Marcedenia will be this statement, set to be sent out next week.”

Richard gestures to the words displayed on the screen.

“It says you’re spending the next few months on an aid trip, and that the location is being withheld for security reasons. Not only will this provide a reason for your extended absence, it should also ensure no one is looking for you anywhere near where you’ll actually be. We’ll coordinate a meeting when you return to make certain you’re able to accurately answer questions about the trip to the press, but your priority for the time being will be on preparing to pass as an American. Understood?”

I nod.

“Good. Now, for the logistics at the school itself. Lincoln is about an hour from Michigan’s largest city. There’s a small town that surrounds the campus, also named Lincoln. The location is obscure, but not desolate. You’ll fly to London on a private plane, then take commercial flights from London to Michigan with two of the four agents who will be accompanying you. They will both have cover stories that allow them to spend time with you regularly and accompany you places without raising suspicion. One will be posing as your stepfather, who just received a position on campus as a professor. The other agent is one we pulled straight from the training academy here. He’s only two years older than you. He will be posing as your stepbrother and a fellow student. The other two agents will be acting as campus security agents. They will be available for back-up at any time if it becomes necessary.”

The faces of three men and a woman flash across the screen.

“We’ve arranged for you to live in Lincoln’s only all-girls dorm, Kennedy Hall. Your roommate will be Katie Masterson. She’s starting her second year, which means she can help you navigate campus. You’ll be sharing a room and a bathroom with her. She did well at Lincoln last year despite her parents divorcing halfway through the year. She passed our background check and had glowing references from everyone we talked to.”

A new image flashes on the screen, this time of a pale girl with short brown hair sporting a friendly smile.

“While your housing is all set, I’ll need your class selections by the end of the day to ensure that’s in order as well.”

Richard returns to his seat and slides a thick booklet down the shiny table to me.

“The president of the university is handling all the arrangements at Lincoln personally. He’s the only person on campus aside from the agents traveling with you who will know your true identity. Anyone else who has had to make arrangements has been told your father is an important government official and any leaks about your location could be a matter of national security. If that story comes out, it should give us enough lead time to remove you, and also create enough confusion when they can’t verify any part of that narrative that your true identity will stay confidential. Questions?”