I feel like I need a system reboot so that everything can start to make sense, and instead of probing for information, I make excuses to sign off quickly.

When I call to Georgie that I’m finished, she comes in and quietly gets to work as opposed to pulling me into her normal fizzy chitchat. I’m pretty sure she’s withdrawn because of the whole Rafe thing. I should explain it to her now. Explain our need for non-suspicious collaboration and that I’m not actually dating the guy who treats her like dog poop on his shoe.

I start talking. “So, I have an idea about how to get off the island—”

She whips her head to look at me. “Have you found out where Hypatia is?” She looks so eager. So worried.

I sigh as I shake my head, sickened with myself. Hypatia is in danger, and I’m her best chance of rescue. But I can’t even figure out how to have a useful phone call with my own family. Some spy I turned out to be.

“Is there any way I can help?”

I’m about to thank her and decline politely, but then I stop and think twice.

Georgie has dropped enough hints for me to understand that her online activities are not, to say, strictly legal. I don’t know if it’s impolite to ask your friend to hack someone for you, but I decide to give it a shot.

“Uh, theoretically, would you be able to find a place that I know exists if I don’t know where?”

She thinks for less than three seconds, then says, “Know anyone who is likely to go there? Theoretically, of course.”

Mom had said that all the New York members of the Chamber are involved in whatever is going on, so that gives me some options. “Yes.”

“Oh, then this will be easy peasy. Choose whoever is most likely to open a link from you on their phone without any suspicion.” She’s already clacking away at her keyboard, flitting between monitors.

Kor and Mom would both be suspicious if I sent them a random message since they know I don’t have phone access. But Alfie probably wouldn’t think too hard about it.

“Got any insulting memes?” I ask her.

Georgie sits up straight. “Do I have any insulting memes?” She rubs her hands together gleefully. “Let me introduce you to my arsenal.”

For just a moment, she reminds me so much of Izzy that I almost feel as if I’m cheating on Izzy with a new best friend.

We spend a little too much time giggling at ridiculously captioned classical paintings and grumpy cats delivering Shakespearean insults. I’m glad to know that despite Georgie having been isolated from most of provincial society for so many years, she’s still acquainted with the best parts of the internet.