A R T H U R S L A D E
8
ADVANCE READING COPY
But the fact they were able to set this up was rather
frightening. They had either planted evidence or taken over
the life of this Rex character. Was it a coincidence that my
first meal had won a trip to Mexico? I shuddered at the
thought, because if they had rigged the contest, it meant that
whoever they were, they had money and a bigger team than
Rex and the drone boy. The commanding tone of the man’s
voice suggested they had connections to the police or to a
military organization. The drone had been whisper quiet—
sophisticated high tech. And you don’t just find tranquilizer
darts at the local grocer. To hunt me down while I hunted
them, to know my practices, that all reeked of researchers.
An organization.
Blood. Blood.
Hunger was still rattling my nerves. I’d need to eat in the
next twenty-four hours. I did not want to collapse. Or go on a
frenzied blood drive. A packet from the hospital would never
work. It had to be fresh blood drawn from the jugular—at
least, that’s what tasted the best.
I heard my mother’s loving voice.
Always have a backup meal.
