“That’s…a really good idea,” Maisie said.

“I’ll try not to be insulted that you sound so surprised.”

“Maps aren’t going to tell you where the shipments are,” Elise said. “Are you just going to go up there and drive around? The north is three times the size of the south, and you don’t even have two days before this one needs to leave.”

“We’re just going to have to wing it,” Maisie said. “Northgate is pretty small, and the shipment should still be there.”

“Well…” Hadley winced. “I may actually be able to help with that.”

They all looked at her.

“How?” Maisie asked.

“I’ve had contact with a Spencer.”

MAISIE

MAISIE GAPED AT Hadley. “How? Who?”

“I don’t know his name,” Hadley said in a rush. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but Uncle Franco said that absolutely no one could know. No one besides the two of us.”

“Explain,” Maisie said.

“Okay.” Hadley took a deep breath. “About a year ago—”

“A year ago?”

“Do you want me to explain or not?”

“Sorry.”

“About a year ago, I got this message through the old radio. The one we used to be able to talk to Americans on? Anyway, it was this guy’s voice, and he just said, ‘Don’t eat the queso.’ And I was like, ‘Excuse me, how dare you, I’ll eat all the queso I want.’ And he was like, ‘Don’t eat the queso on the shipment. Trust me.’ And then he just kind of disappeared. So, I told Lopez about it, and we went down to check the queso in the next shipment. It was full of maggots.”

“Gross,” Elise said.

“All the jars had been opened. Someone had put the maggots in there. So, we just threw them all out, because hardly anyone buys that jarred queso anyway. I don’t know why they keep sending it.”

“It’s really not very good,” Elise said. “And now I’m never eating it again.”

“Anyway, I tried to reach out to him, but he never responded. Then, one day, like a month later, he gives me another tip. And he’s right again. So, eventually, I get him to actually talk to me and not just disappear like a big asshole. Turns out he’s up in Spencer territory. Must be pretty well connected, because he knows a lot of stuff.”

“But you don’t know who he is?” Maisie asked.

“No. He never gave me a name. I just call him Queso. I don’t even know which territory he’s in, though I suspect it’s Northgate. But I do have a way of contacting him. So, I could ask. I’ve asked about the shipment before, but that was weeks ago. He claimed it was coming, but maybe he knows something now.”

“Seriously?” Maisie said. “And you didn’t tell me about this?”

“I’m sorry! I was going to, but Uncle Franco told me not to tell anyone. And he used his serious voice. The one that meant some real bad shit was going to happen if I didn’t listen.”