I hope.

Atlas hands me a bottle of water and a plate with a slice of pizza. The idea of food makes my stomach churn. Between the planning and fleeing the Lyceum and Atlas . . . I haven’t had time to think about the risks everyone is about to take. Now that I am and the time is approaching, I feel ill.

“Trust me,” Atlas says. “You need to be at the top of your game tonight. Eat.”

I take a bite and force myself to chew, even though it tastes like ash. Then I tell the team I had another idea that, if it works, will give us a warning as to when the Marshals learn of our real locations.

Rose answers on the first ring. She sounds tired, but the steely determination that I’ve always envied is present as she tells me she’s on her way to meet her father. “He tried to convince me I should stay home with Mom, but I told him I needed to see that he was working to get Isaac home. I can tell he knows more than he’s admitting.”

“There’s something else I need your help with,” I tell her. “The minute your father starts getting calls that upset him and give you an opening to do your search, let me know.”

“I can do that.”

I think about what could be happening to her brother and swallow hard. “Be careful, Rose. Please.”

“I know how to handle my father.”

That’s what I’m counting on.

“Speaking of fathers . . .” Rose pauses. “Yours called a little while ago looking for you. He said you weren’t answering your phone. I told him you must have forgotten it in my room when you went to get me a latte. Meri . . . he sounded strange.”

I rub my forehead as pressure builds behind my eyes. “He’s just worried. I’ll give him a call. Don’t worry about it. Focus on your dad and on finding something that can help us locate Isaac.”

Rose assures me she’ll be fine and hangs up as Spine yells for the teams to assemble on the third floor to go over the final plans before we head out. I tell my team I’ll meet them up there. When they exit, I take a deep breath and dial my father. He answers on the first ring.

“Honey, I was hoping you’d be home by now.” His words sound strained, but strong and sober. “Rose filled me in on what’s happening with her brother.”

“Then you understand that I have to help her.”

“Rose needs your support, but we have to talk. Why don’t I come by and pick you up. We could get dinner and you can go back to Rose’s after.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

He lets out a sigh. “I know you’re upset about last night. If you let me explain—”

“Explain later, Dad,” I shoot back as fear and frustration and disappointment burst free. “Right now there are more important things than whatever excuse you have this time. I’ll be home in a few hours,” I say as someone shouts my new name from down the hall. “If you really want to talk to me, you’ll be sober when I get there.” I hit End and close my eyes tight to ward off the growing tension. If he’s sober when I get home, I’ll tell him everything, because tonight is about truth, and it is time to end the lies.