Page 27 of Emerald

Another deep inhale of the tropical air, and I let my mind become blank as I try to get Ellie Clark to slide over my skin and settle into place. I need to be one hundred percent transformed into character if I want all of this to work. But who the hell is Ellie Clark? Am I Ellie Clark from Ibiza, Zoe, Grace, Sophie, and Mackenzie’s adopted sister or am I Mexico mission Ellie Clark?

I let out a shaky exhale for the first time. I’m unsure about who I should be, the new me or another version of me. I’ve never been conflicted before. My phone buzzes in my bag and I head over and pull it out. It’s a message from Mackenzie.

Mackenzie: Did you make it okay?

I decide to press CALL and hold the phone to my ear.

“You made it,” Mackenzie says excitedly when she answers the phone.

“I did. I’m about to have a shower and wash off the jetlag,” I tell her.

“Ew. So … what do you think of Nash?” she asks.

“I’ve known him for two hours, not much to say really,” I answer her.

Mackenzie chuckles. “He’s hot, isn’t he?”

“Some people would think so,” I answer.

“Firstly, I’ve met him. The man is fine, and secondly, you just outed yourself,” she says, bursting out laughing.

“How?”

“Pretending you don’t find him attractive.”

“I have jetlag, I wasn’t really looking.”

“The big bad assassin has jetlag, boo hoo,” she jokes.

My mouth falls open at her comments before a giggle falls from my lips. I don’t know what kind of voodoo Mackenzie has, but she always has me cracking up.

“You’re crazy,” I tell her.

“Probably. Now show me where you are staying,” she asks.

I tap video on the phone, and her face fills the screen. Walking back out onto the deck, I turn the phone around and show her my view.

“You’re shitting me?” she curses.

“Isn’t it stunning? I thought Nash was taking me to some rundown beach shack and then it turns into this.”

“That looks like paradise.” Mackenzie sighs.

“It truly is beautiful and unexpected.”

“You should relax while you’re there. Have a mini vacay,” Mackenzie states.

Turning the phone back around to me, I remind her, “I’m here to search for Pearl.”

Mackenzie’s face falls. “Sorry, you’re right,” she says, shaking her head. “Do you think it’s going to be hard to find her?”

“Actually, I need your help?” I tell her.

This perks her right up.

“I don’t think Nash is buying the story that I’m your adopted sister. He said that I don’t act like a Clark girl. I’m not sure what that means.”

Mackenzie’s eyes narrow. “I’m not sure what that means either. Like I said, I’ve met Nash maybe once, and I don’t think Zoe and Grace have met him that much more. Maybe he’s comparing you to Sophie? Or the stories he’s heard from Sophie,” she explains.

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