The Dark Shore (Atlanteans) Read Online Free Page B

intelligence and news agencies stating that three suspects had escaped from EdenWest. Detailed descriptions of you all were included in this statement, as well as of your craft.” He stopped.
    I knew what question he wanted me to ask. “Suspects?”
    “Indeed. Three suspects wanted in connection with the murders of EdenWest’s head of security and communications coordinator.”
    I tried to hide my surprise, but Paul saw it, and it made him smile.
    “Yes, that’s right. Because let’s think through what really happened yesterday, Owen. Photos of Cartier, dead from the arrow wound, were circulated, as well as surveillance footage of you pushing Aaron to his death from your craft.”
    “He survived that fall!” I countered. “I saw him come up.”
    “That’s funny,” said Paul. “He doesn’t surface in the footage. And there were many eyewitnesses when his body washed ashore on the Camp Eden beach this morning during polar bear swim.”
    I wanted to reply, but I was knotting up, heart racing, breath getting short. And I could tell that Paul was enjoying this. So I stayed quiet, trying to give him nothing.
    “Right now,” said Paul, “law enforcement in every major city-state has your profile and knows that Eden is offering a substantial reward for your return. And that includes Yellowstone Hub. So, you may want to skip your little homecoming.”
    “Turn it off,” said Lilly. “That’s enough of him .”
    “Not quite,” said Paul. “You’ll want to hear this part, Miss Ishani. I also wanted to let you know that we captured your coconspirators as they tried to escape. Evan, Marco, and Aliah have proven quite . . . useful for rounding out the intelligence profiles we sent out about you.”
    Lilly couldn’t hide her expression either. “You’re lying,” she said.
    “Is that him?” I turned to see Leech hurrying around the corner.
    “And I found this interesting,” Paul continued. “After Evan had been interrogated, and just before I cut open his chest and hooked him up in my lab—”
    Lilly threw her hands over her mouth, trying to hide a gasp.
    Paul’s smile grew. “I asked him if he wanted me to tell you anything, Lilly, I mean since you two have such history . And he said, with tears in his eyes, I kid you not, that he would never forget that night in the boathouse.”
    “Shut up, liar!” Lilly reached over my hands and stabbed at the glass with a shaking finger, opening the menu again.
    “Owen, think about it,” said Paul. “You don’t have any options. So just sit tight and wait for us to arrive. I promise you I’m willing to forgive yesterday’s squabble.”
    “Hey!” Leech shouted, running toward us. “Hey, you!” He was pointing at the pad.
    Paul’s head twitched like he may have heard Leech. “You’re the one , Owen,” he said, “the one who can lead us to Atlantis. And like I told you, I want to follow you. But you can’t do it alone, especially not as a fugitive.”
    “Go to hell,” I said to him.
    Paul frowned. “Owen. Really. There’s more I could tell you. More you should know. I’m keeping things from you for your safety, but, trust me, you do not want to make this journey without me.”
    Lilly reached the gamma link menu.
    “I’ll even give you time to let the other two escape if you want. They don’t matter to me, Owen. Only you. The Three is a myth. You are all that matters.”
    “Bye!” said Lilly.
    “I’m coming for you, either way.”
    Lilly’s finger was descending toward the Disconnect button when Leech snatched the pad out of our hands.
    “I matter too, you ass lesion!” he screamed at the screen, then he twisted and hurled the computer. It twirled across the canyon.
    “Hey!” I shouted.
    “What are you DOING?” Lilly echoed.
    The pad smashed against the far wall and fell to the sand, broken glass pattering around it.
    Leech just stared after it, his face red, shoulders heaving up and down. “They can track us with that.”
    Lilly