116 pages • 3 hours read
Alan GratzA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Hagan brings Kamran pizza and a soda as a surprise treat. Kamran asks what the occasion is; Hagan reveals that it’s Christmas. Kamran thinks back to his family, his parents: “our house. Cold. Dark. Empty. No Christmas tree. No food cooking in the kitchen” (93). He feels a sense of loss over his disconnection from his family, from even knowing their whereabouts.
Hagan tells Kamran that he won't be released for quite a while, particularly since his decoding work has proven to be useful to the case. He also assures Kamran they've notified the proper authorities about the potential attack. When Hagan isn't looking, Kamran looks at the top of the pizza box, trying to figure out his location. He doesn't recognize the area code, 202, or the address, which has no city. He shuts the box as soon as Hagan turns around.
The pair sit down in front of a screen to try to decode more from the videos. This time, Hagan shuts off the sound and they watch, instead of listening.
Watching the video together, Hagan and Kamran notice the same tapped codes on Darius’s leg, the same signs they had seen before.
By Alan Gratz