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close-cropped and his nose looked squashed and broken, just as Mr Smith had described.
    ‘I reckon he works for RAGE.’ I looked at Lewis. ‘You worked undercover there for a year, didn’t you? What d’you think? Does he look like he’d fit in
there?’
    Lewis shrugged. ‘RAGE takes in all sorts – from idealistic hippies against genetic modification to thugs who are just looking for an excuse to beat up on people. This guy might just
as well work for Elijah as for RAGE.’
    There was something particularly bitter about the way he said Elijah’s name. I’d only heard him sound that bitter once before . . . about Mel.
    I stared at him, suddenly realising what Lewis was really focused on. ‘You hope McRae works for Elijah, don’t you? You hope all this will lead you to Elijah.’
    ‘Don’t be stupid,’ Lewis muttered.
    ‘I’m not,’ I said. ‘You might care about Rachel and want to save her, but you’re also hoping that you’ll find Elijah. That’s why you’re
spending all this time and money. It’s to lead you to Elijah so you can take revenge for Mel!’
    Lewis glared at me. ‘He killed her in front of me . . . in front of you and Rachel . . . totally unprovoked . . . just because she’d been with me . . .’
    I nodded. ‘I know.’ I felt uncomfortable now. Lewis looked so angry and upset. ‘I’m just saying our priority has to be Rachel, that’s all.’
    ‘Of course.’ Lewis looked away.
    There was an awkward silence for a moment or two.
    ‘Let’s check in with Max,’ I said eventually. ‘See how she’s getting on.’
    It turned out that Max hadn’t managed to find an address for McRae, but the college where he was studying engineering was listed. Lewis and I set off for it straight away, hoping that
McRae would turn up for school first thing on Monday morning.
    We found a B&B near the college and, while Lewis took a shower, I went outside and used the call box I’d noticed to phone Mum.
    It was now almost twenty-four hours since I’d sent her the text from my old mobile. I took a deep breath as I punched in our home number. I knew I had to let her know I was okay –
Lewis had already nagged me about it several times – but I wasn’t looking forward to the bollocking I was likely to receive.
    In the end, I just got the answerphone. I left a short message, repeating my lie about having gone off for a few days with a friend. I knew Mum wouldn’t buy it, just like I knew she would
be beyond furious when we finally saw each other again. But, right then, I didn’t care.
    I rang off, wondering vaguely if I should try Mum’s mobile. After all, if she wasn’t at home that probably meant she was out looking for me somewhere.
    Another twinge of guilt.
    I got into bed and tried to focus on what we had to do tomorrow: find McRae and make him tell us what really happened to Rachel.
    I hoped it was going to be as easy as it sounded.
     
    25
Rachel
    Elijah Lazio folded his arms, clearly enjoying the shocked look on my face.
    ‘Surprised to see me, Rachel?’ He stared at me appraisingly. A mean smile twisted across his lips. ‘Milo did well to trick you – I can see you’ve lost that
innocent, trusting manner you had last year.’
    ‘What are you going to do with me?’ I said. ‘And where’s Daniel? What’ve you done with him?’
    ‘All in good time, Rachel,’ Elijah said, brushing a speck of dust off his expensively-cut suit.
    ‘I see Milo was lying about you needing a heart transplant,’ I said.
    ‘I had one.’ Elijah flicked his little finger impatiently.
    ‘Is that . . .?’ I couldn’t bear to think what that might mean. ‘How . . .?’
    Elijah sighed. ‘I worked out a way of adapting Daniel’s heart so that the transplant I needed could take place. It was performed nearly seven months ago and it worked.
Obviously.’
    I stared at him, unable to take in what he was saying. ‘So . . . Daniel’s dead?’
    Elijah shrugged. ‘A necessary sacrifice, I’m