He attached the phone to the tripod he’d set up on a table. Hadley and Maisie watched him from the doorway.

“You seriously have to make a video?” Maisie asked.

“It’ll help,” he said, with a confidence he didn’t feel. He had no idea what would help. He’d never been in this situation before.

“The election is tonight, isn’t it?” Hadley asked. “You just want to help your dad’s campaign. They won’t know whether or not you’ve gotten out when they vote.”

“It’s probably too late to help my dad’s campaign. Most people have already voted.”

Hadley looked at him skeptically.

“Fine, yes, it occurred to me that it could help. Early voting isn’t really allowed in most places anymore, so there’s a chance that…” He took a deep breath, shaking his head like he was getting off track. “It doesn’t matter. Just, trust me. I’m really good at this. I change the narrative. Let me change this one.”

Elise scrunched up her face and mouthed the narrative at Hadley. They both laughed. He pretended he hadn’t noticed.

“What are you going to say?” Maisie asked.

“What are we going to say?” Lennon corrected.

“We?”

“Yes. They need to see someone from inside the zone, and you’re perfect.”

“Why am I perfect?”

“Because you—uh, because you’re the one who is going to get me out. People will want to root for someone. And because you saved me. Which I’ll tell them. Leaving out the part about the cannibals.”

She hesitated, and then shrugged. “Yeah, all right.”

He turned away. He’d barely stopped himself from saying, Because you’re very pretty, and confident, and you have this way about you that makes people like you and want to listen to you. He got the feeling that Maisie would not appreciate being told that she was pretty. Or the suggestion that people might like her, come to think of it.

“We’re just going to be casual,” he said. “Sort of have a conversation. And I’m going to mention Dr. Lopez, but not that he’s passed away.” He glanced at Hadley, silently asking if that was okay.

“Yeah, that’s best,” she said softly.

“Good. Mind making sure we’re framed okay?” he asked. She nodded and strode to the tripod.

He walked around in front of the phone and Maisie did the same. “Let’s just lean against this table.” He braced his hands against it as he leaned back casually. “It gives off the impression that we’re relaxed. No one here is scared.”

Maisie sighed but did as she was ordered.

He put his hand up, hovering over her ponytail. “May I?”

“Sure, why not?”

He pulled the hair forward, so it fell over her shoulder.

“Oh yes, that looks cute,” Hadley said.

“Fix women’s hair a lot for photo shoots, do you?” Maisie asked.

“Making people appear relaxed when they actually want to punch me is one of my strong suits.”

She snort-laughed, a grin spreading across her face.

“See?” He smiled.

“Impressive,” Hadley said. “Okay, are you guys ready?”