Corrina was already seated when I walked in, and excitedly waved me over. “McKenzie! She stood up and hugged me tight, like we were old friends. I couldn’t breathe for a second, but tried to return the hug.
She finally released me and sat down. “How have you been?”
“Um, okay. I just started senior year.”
“Oh, that’s great!” There was an awkward pause where she smiled a little too big before saying, “I’m sorry. I’m used to talking to Immortals, and I don’t have to ask them anything else. What do you want to…do after high school?”
In truth, I wasn’t used to being asked that question either. “Oh, um…go to college and study biology. Then med school.”
Corrina didn’t exactly look disappointed, but she did look stunned. “Well…that’s great! How’s your grandfather?”
“Oh…not that good. They gave him four to six weeks.”
“Oh Kenzie, I’m sorry. I can’t believe we’re losing the legendary Dr. Fred Palmer. I’d love to come to the funeral — not as a reporter, just as a friend.”
I smiled. “We’d like that.”
She shifted in her seat. “So…the reason I asked you here today is, frankly, to as you some questions I’ve never had to ask anyone. Nobody’s been asked these questions before except your grandfather, and I was too young when he left to interview him. So I’m asking you now. Kenzie…why did you leave?
I’d gone over potential answers in my mind, of course, thought about the most diplomatic answer. But I decided on the most blunt.
“Because it’s corrupt,” I said. “The whole system is terrible. I didn’t want to be a part of it anymore.”
“But Kenzie…it’s corrupt in your favor. Why didn’t you keep taking advantage of it?”
“I did at first. I accepted the invitation in, even though I didn’t feel right about it. It never felt right. It was fun, of course, and I convinced myself that I should stay. But that didn’t last long. I thought about leaving a couple months in, but then…”
“You met Gage,” she finished for me. “Kenzie, are you sure none of this had to do with him?”
“What? No. Well, sort of. I stayed longer than I wanted to because of him. But after awhile, I couldn’t stand it any longer. The guilt was eating away at me. I wanted us to stay together, but it’s hard, you know?”
“Dating an Immortal when you’re not one? I’m sure it is. I don’t think it’s ever been done before, at least not long term.”
“I miss him,” I said. “But it was worth it. It’s so much better this way.”
Corrina’s phone rang, sharp and loud. There weren’t many people in the restaurant — lunch hour was almost over — and that made it seem even louder. Corrina looked down at it, frowned, and said, “Sorry, I have to take this.” She left the table and headed out of view, leaving me alone.
At first, I was bored. Most people around me were on their various devices, but I’d long since given mine up. I was still getting used to sitting in hallways between classes with nothing to do but talk to people.
Then I spotted something under Corrina’s napkin. She had folded it well enough that it was hidden — but there was still the slightest bulge at the top. Looking around self consciously, I reached across the table and lifted the napkin to reveal a recording device.
I’d seen ones like it, of course, but not this small. It somewhat resembled the EED Corrina had told me about so long ago — and the one had Elizabeth had used to eavesdrop on me. Corrina wouldn’t have needed something this powerful for a conversation across the table. But if the display at the electronics store was correct, it would do just find for capturing my every word.
Gasping, I looked around the restaurant. Corrina was still out of sight, and the few customers still there were either preparing to leave or wrapped up in their own conversations. So I carefully reached across the table again and pulled out the device.
But I still didn’t want to listen without headphones. I probably could have with a device like this, but living outside the Necropolis and being accustomed to devices most people here would consider “old fashioned,” had left me paranoid. So I grabbed my bag with my “old” mp3 player and headphones. And that’s when something on the floor by Corrina’s bag caught my eye.
Her bag was large. That was pretty common among reporters, who often had to travel to locations far away and bring lots of extra things with them. But Corrina had insisted this conversation would be off the record. No reporter needed this much stuff just to go out to lunch.
And there was a notebook peeking out of the top.
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. Then again, Corrina had probably gone out of her way to make sure I didn’t. Arriving early, keeping me distracted…she probably thought I’d never find the recorder, never thought I’d be able to put two and two together.
She was still out of sight, but I heard her voice from around the corner. Quickly, I pulled out the notebook and slid it into my own oversized bag.
Corrina rounded the corner and shoved the phone in her pocket. “Sorry about that. The boss was freaked about some stupid papers. Don’t know why he always overreacts to stuff.” She sighed. “Anyway, where were we?”
I managed to make small talk with Corrina for another half hour or so, my heart pounding the whole time. Once I got home, I excused myself to my room and pulled open the notebook.
There
