Chapter 4The Audience Voted for Me to Save the Lost Prince

That night, I did something incredibly daring.

Following the clues from the pop-ups, I found the number for Harrison Reid, the former legal counsel for Pierce Corp.

He was a long-time associate of Landon's deceased mother, Helena Pierce, and had always suspected foul play in her "accident."

I used a payphone outside a convenience store.

“Mr. Reid, I’m Ainsley Rowe. I think… I know where Landon Pierce is.”

Silence on the other end.

“Do you know the consequences of making a false claim?”

“He has a red mole behind his left ear, and a burn scar on the web of his right hand. He got it when he knocked over the candles on his seventh birthday.”

I rushed the words out. “He’s using the name Landon now, and he’s staying in the West End, but he has to move tonight. Sylvie’s people are closing in. If they find him first, he’ll be forced to sign a property waiver, and then he’ll ‘accidentally’ die.”

A longer silence.

“What do you want?” Harrison Reid’s voice was low and guarded.

“First, guarantee his safety. Second, get him into school. Third… don’t bring him back to the Pierce mansion yet. Not until he’s capable of protecting himself.”

“You’re just a student.”

“Which is why Sylvie won’t suspect me.” I said. “Mr. Reid, if you want to honor the memory of Ms. Helena Pierce, you need to trust me.”

I hung up, my legs shaking too much to stand.

The pop-ups erupted in cheers:

[Background Sis is a certified badass! She went straight to the key NPC!]

[Harrison only found Landon after three years in the original book, and by then it was too late!]

[This pushed the plot forward by at least six months!]

But I knew the trouble had just begun.