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She nods and swats er off her chin "Got it"

"Got what?" a wet-fro Harper says from down below She’s dressed in clean shorts and new tank top, black this tiot some cute sneakers on her feet "What’d I miss?"

I stand up and walk down the stairs "Not ether" I look back up at the kid and wink "Right, Sets to her feet and comes down to join us She looks at Harp and produces a smile And if it’s fake, I’m convinced "He said we’re partners now So you knoe find that buried treasure we’re after, I get a cut Right, Jaht, kid You’re in"

And then Sasha takes Harper’s hand and leads her towards the kitchen as she talks about food Her crying jag is over, her sadness tucked away, her smile in place, and her attitude adjusted

The relief I feel at procuring her cooperation is real

Sasha Cherlin is not a kid you want to fk over without a plan

Chapter Twenty-Two - Harper

"I don’t think there’s any food in here, Sasha"

"I bought us food at the visitor center, rery!"

She goes over to her backpack and pulls out a plastic bag and then begins eusting orange crackers, a half-eaten bag of gus, a chocolate bar that looks like it h I have not eaten in two days,about that food "James!" I call out

"Yeah," he answers back a few seconds later What’s he doing in there? I walk towards the living roo on a shirt "What’s up?" he asks