“I think you know.”

A knot sits in my stomach, and I press down on it. “Where did you find this?”

Max kicks at a rock. “I hacked the FBI database. Well, technically I hacked my uncle’s computer. But since he works there, he has access to records the public recorder doesn’t. I kept hitting a wall with how your gram immigrated here. So I offered to walk Molly—that’s his beagle.” He spreads his arms wide. “Then presto. While he played video games, I downloaded everything I could about your gram.”

“A hacker?” I whisper. “What if you get caught?”

Max shrugs. “I won’t. I’m good at it. I’m like a computer ninja.”

“And so humble and shy about it.”

“Hey,” Max says with a smug grin. “No reason to be humble when you’re the best, and I’m the best. No one will even know. And who are we hurting? No one, that’s who.”

I stare back down at the paper. “But why is it all crossed out like this?”

“This is what they call ‘redacted.’ It’s when the government blacks out things they don’t want anyone to know.”

“Is this something else you learned from watching eighties spy movies?” I ask.

He shakes his head like I’ve disappointed him. “Dude, that hurts. My knowledge is so much more than movies and books. I listen when my uncle talks about his job. I know things. A lot of very important things. Plus, I’m sort of a genius. Not to brag or anything.”

“Okay, I get it.” I fold the paper in half. “Whatever it is must have happened a long time ago. Do you think they still care?” If Olivia were here, this is when she’d roll her eyes and say, Duh, Lulu.

Instead, Max looks at me patiently and speaks very slowly. “They redacted a five-page file. They obviously still care.”

I fumble with my phone, but there’s still no answer from Olivia. “Where is she?”

“Who?” He waves to some girls walking by, and they giggle.

“Olivia. She needs to hear this.”

He ducks his head, his hair flopping over his eyes. “You haven’t talked to her?”

I slip the papers back into the envelope. “Not since last night. Why?”

He won’t meet my gaze. “Maybe you should call her.”

My stomach lurches like I’ve eaten too many gummy worms. “Tell me.”

He glances around to make sure we won’t be overheard. “When we got to her house last night, her mom and dad were fighting. I think maybe Olivia’s mom was kicking him out.”

“What? But they’re super in love!” Olivia always talked about all the flowers and candy her dad brought her mom. My dad only buys Mom stuff on their anniversary.