Fallen + Marli & Lalo (Fallen Invasion, #3) by Mia Mitns

careful.”
    “It’s very important,” he said.
    “Kallen, what are you not saying?  What’s going on? Who are you? ” I whispered.
    Kallen’s eyes scanned mine.  “There are some things I need to tell you,” he said and glanced over to the team who was getting things ready to put on the boats.  “But not here.  Like I said, things are changing.  Things will get worse.  Even more so for your team if their theories become aligned with mine.”
    “Your theories?  Care to share?”
    “There are spies everywhere.  Don’t trust anyone.”
    “You included?” I asked.
    “Here.”  Kallen rustled around in his pockets and pulled out a compact walkie-talkie two way radio and gave it to me.  “Keep this on you at all times.  Cell phones can break down—on purpose.  Do you understand?”
    “Yes,” I said and slid the device into a pocket.  “You sure aren’t being slick.”
    “I want the attention,” Kallen said.  “See you later.”  Kallen strolled back across the camp site and tapped Dr. Stevenson on the shoulder then said goodbye to everyone and left.  I rejoined the group to help prepare the boats for our trip down the lake.
    “Looks like you have another father,” Ashley said.
    I chuckled.  “I basically do.”
    Three hours of relatively tame, hot and humid weather, coasting on murky water, was all it took to find out the fish and other insects we were tracking continued north.  Some crossed areas they avoided in the past.  Most of my team was worried about the safety of each species.  I began to worry that it was our species we should be concerned with.  The fish, insects, and animals were all telling us to run.

Chapter 5
    T aking the walkie-talkie out of my pocket was a relief.  I didn’t even use it.  My phone worked just fine.  I rotated the device in my hand.  Although it had normal characteristics, I questioned if it doubled as a tracking instrument or monitor.  If Kallen was interested in spying on us...
    I set my sight out to the tall trees that framed the lake.  Why would Kallen want to spy if Dr. Stevenson was his friend?  Or was he really Kallen’s friend?  With the arrival of Lalo I began to question everything.
    Was the idea for this team all planned?  Was I a specific person chosen?  Were we all brought there on purpose?  This is exactly the recipe for going insane , I reminded myself.
    “What are you thinking about?” Ren asked as he moved some jet black strands of hair away of his face, tucking them behind his ear.  He must have noticed I was drifting away when he and Ashley had nothing else to talk about.  Ashley’s squinting eyes examined me too.
    “Home,” I said.
    “Hmm,” Ashley said and got up to crank the motor. 
    What did she mean by that?  What was it about? 
    When we made it back to our meeting site, Kallen was there waiting.  Dr. Stevenson most likely informed him we were on our way back.  Kallen at least benefited from one of our problems that day.  The mosquitoes had already fled too.
    During the brief meeting we had prior to leaving for the day, I made an effort to secretly check everyone out.  No one was acting out of the ordinary.  If they were spies, they played their role well.
    —-
    T hrough the trees, in the parking area, a large, black tarp stood out.  It covered the bed of Kallen’s truck.  The same bed that was empty when Kallen dropped me off that morning.  Getting closer, I noticed fresh mud covering the jet black coating of the truck.  Adding to the oddities, a wonderful rose potpourri scent filled my nose as I climbed in.  Who rode with Kallen during the day?   Or what was he hiding? 
    Kallen started the truck without speaking a word.  I remained quiet, waiting for him to determine the safe zone.
    “Anything unusual?” he said as we entered the highway.
    “Other than your warning this morning?” I said.
    “So your fish continued their path,” he said.  “And you still haven’t figured out why