Chapter Eleven
“What is it?” I ask even though I already know. It’s a puzzle, and there’s a part of me that yearned for this. For a puzzle I can’t immediately solve. One without a textbook to explain it to me. I’ve been searching my whole life for something I can’t unscramble, for a riddle without an answer.
Which makes me feel like a terrible person.
“Maybe nothing. Gibberish. Or a message from Avery herself.”
“Or a ransom note.”
“Why would a kidnapper put his ransom note in code? Doesn’t he want to get paid?”
Okay, that’s a good point. But this is still the best lead to where Avery has gone. The only one. “You think it’s related or you wouldn’t have shown me.”
“I told you to leave.”
“And you didn’t throw this away when it came.”
“I have no interest in games.” His words are punct
