Finding Lily

The morning I find Lily arrives with the kind of electric anticipation that makes your skin tingle and your heart race. I’ve been searching for her for years. Following leads that always went cold. Investigating rumors that always turned out to be false. And then, finally, I found her.

The information comes from an old contact in the Paradigm’s underground network. Lily is alive. She’s owned by a family in the South, a wealthy clan who’ve kept her hidden for decades. She’s in her late fifties now, older and worn, but she’s still Lily. Still my father’s treasure.

I make the journey to the South, Lexi and Stone at my side. The family who owns Lily lives in a sprawling estate, similar to my own but older, more worn. The patriarch, a man named Mr. Harrison, greets me at the door.

“Ms. Copeland,” he says. “I’ve heard about you. About your family. About the Paradigm.”

“Then you know why I’m here, Mr. Harrison. I’ve come for Lily.”

He stares at me, his face hard. “She’s been with us for decades. She’s a loyal pet. A devoted companion. I’m not sure I want to sell her.”

I smile. “I’m not asking you to sell her, Mr. Harrison. I’m offering you a price you can’t refuse.”

I name the figure. His eyes widened. It’s more money than he could ever imagine. More money than his estate is worth.

He’s silent for a long moment. Then he says, “She’s in the back. I’ll take you to her.”