toward the monitor where a handsome silver-haired man smiled. “Meet Councilman Beaumont, a great family man, friend to the environment, and all-around good guy. At least that’s what he wants his voters to believe.”
“I’ve seen his commercials,” Eli said. “But what does this have to do with Amber?”
“I’m getting to that. First, look at the councilman’s official website, where he makes nice with the public. His people invested tons of money and energy into their website to win over voters. But voters don’t know that his influence is for sale to the highest bidder, and since my sources won’t go public, I have to attack the councilman in a more subtle way.” He clicked a few more keys and a different website popped up. At first glance this looked exactly like the official Beaumont website, except the picture of Councilman Beaumont showed him with a sly expression as he stood with a sleazy-looking guy, his hands on a large envelope. The caption below the picture read: Councilman for Sale!
“Anyone searching for the dishonorable Councilman will find my alternate website,” Dustin explained proudly.
“Score one for the good guys,” I said, applauding. “Alyce would call Beaumont a corruptician.”
“Actually, she did.” Dustin hit a button and the screen blacked out. “I hope this website and others can even out the justice scales — at least until they’re shut down. I didn’t solve the problem, but I found another way to fight back. And you can, too, Amber.”
“How? I’m stuck in this body.”
“You can still get your life back. You do want to go home, don’t you?”
“More than anything,” I admitted softly. “But my family won’t even recognize me.”
“I did,” Dustin pointed out.
“Only because you have a very strange mind.”
“A logical mind has to accept the impossible when there is no other explanation. Unfortunately most people aren’t logical.” Dustin twisted his lips in a way that told me who he was thinking about.
“Like Alyce,” I said sadly.
“When I talk to her about you, she shuts me down. Today she skipped school. Afterwards I went by her house, and her mother wouldn’t let me in — said that Alyce didn’t want to see me.”
I nodded, understanding too well. Alyce moved on emotion. I’d known her long enough to sense when one of her dark moods was coming on, and could tease her back into smiles. But I couldn’t make her smile if she wouldn’t let me prove who I was.
I wanted to go to her house right now and make her listen. But when I glanced over at the clock, panic struck. An hour had passed since I’d left Jessica’s party — soon Luis would arrive to pick me up. All hell would break loose if I wasn’t there. Each time I’d run away, Leah’s father had had someone bring me back. He’d warned that there wouldn’t be a third time — that he’d send me to DeHaven, where I’d never be able to escape.
Unless he couldn’t find me.
I’d hide out with my friends, change my appearance, and start over with a new identity. But what would it change? I’d still be living a lie, pretending to be someone I wasn’t, unable to live with my family.
And what about school? My career? My future?
Running would solve nothing. Besides, no matter how far I traveled or how much I changed my appearance, Mr. Montgomery would find me.
Dustin patted my trembling hand. “You okay?”
“Not really. I want to stay, but I better leave.”
“What are you talking about?” Eli furrowed his brow. “You don’t have to go anywhere. We’ll protect you.”
“That’s for damn sure,” Dustin agreed. “I have a network of friends who can help.”
“So does Mr. Montgomery,” I pointed out. “Rich and powerful friends.”
“So what?” Dustin shrugged. “You don’t have to pretend you’re Leah. We’ll help you explain to your parents that you’re alive. Last time I saw them, they were talking about funeral arrangements. It’s not fair to let them go on thinking the body in the hospital is all that’s left of you.”
“It’s not fair that I look like this.” Tears blurred my eyes. “I don’t want to hurt anyone … all I know is that if I don’t go back, things could get worse.”
“She’s right.” Eli folded his arms across his chest and turned to Dustin. “Mr. Montgomery is bad news. Our families hang in the same social circles, so I’ve seen him con people. He comes off as sympathetic because he puts up with an alcoholic wife. But I’ve heard rumors that he bullies his employees and even his family.”
He’s worse than that, I thought uneasily, remembering his creepy obsession with Leah’s appearance and the sting of his slap.
“I don’t want Amber to go back anymore than you do,” Eli told Dustin in a grim tone. “But if she doesn’t, Mr. Montgomery will probably send the FBI looking for her.”
“Let them look,” Dustin argued. “They’ll never find her.”
“What kind of life would that be? But if she goes back, it’ll give us time to come up with a plan so she can get away for good.”
“I never said I wouldn’t. I–I care, too.” Eli bumped his elbow on the desk and caught the container of pens before it fell over.
“Then work with me to hide her.”
“Excuse me! I’m right here.” I threw up my hands, shoving between them. “I can make my own decisions.”
“I just want to help,” Dustin said.
“Me, too,” Eli added.
“Arguing isn’t solving anything,” I pointed out.
“Okay.” Dustin studied my face. “Tell us what you want.”
“Yeah,” Eli said. “Where do you want to go?”
They both watched me, waiting. But I didn’t know … I had no idea what to do. It was like being trapped in a pitch-dark room with no windows or doors. No way out.
Eli couldn’t hide me in his house — not with Chad living there. And Dustin couldn’t exactly offer to share his couch. Where did that leave me?
Homeless in a borrowed body.
So I said, take me back.
To Leah’s life.
27
Eli drove us to Dustin’s house; a single-story wood-paneled home in one of those cookie-cutter neighborhoods.
Dustin’s father, an electrician, was off early and did a double take when I walked through the living room hand-in-hand with Dustin. It was so amazing to be with Dustin again that I didn’t want to let him go. Dustin rarely invited girls to his home, and never one that looked like Leah. No wonder his dad was surprised, impressed even.
I smiled and played it up, leaning against Dustin and giggling like I had hair gel for brains. Dustin whispered, “Cut that out!” while turning an interesting shade of red.
“Are you sure you want me to?” I vamped.
“Amber, can’t you control yourself?”
I just grinned. He’d called me
We headed for Dustin’s self-proclaimed “Headquarters.” Not a bedroom, like a normal person would have, but
