“Ni hao,” Oshun answered the phone as she lifted a pair of chopsticks and put a steamed dumpling into her mouth. She had to press the phone hard to her ear to block out the noise from the bustling, dirty streets. Vendors yelled, taxis screeched, and flocks of people tittered loudly to each other along the sidewalk.
“If that’s Emani, tell her I found the most perfect dress for her yesterday—the one with the slit up the side, remember? But it’s blue, not her favorite color,” Ecko whispered, twisting her new neon green and blue hair extensions through her thin fingers. “I could have it made in a different color if she wants.”
“It’s Gideon!” Oshun hissed to Ecko, clamping her hand over the small silver phone, as she tried to swallow her food. She straightened up in her chair, as if Gideon could see her.
“Sorry!” Ecko mouthed back to her sister. She kept completely quiet for the rest of the conversation, correcting her posture, as well. She watched her sister’s perfect feline features twist from surprise, to confusion, to a devilish delight through the quick conversation. Ecko didn’t understand why Oshun would be smiling. She could hear Gideon screaming at her on the other end, though she could only make out a few of the infuriated words. Ryen, Mexico, and insubordination were the three that kept cropping up over and over.
If this had anything to do with Ryen, Emani would be involved somehow too. And that scared Ecko, because she was a little afraid of her eldest sister. Her mood swings were fierce enough to break anyone’s neck.
“It will be done. We will report to Emani when we find them … Of course, Master … He won’t even know we’re there,” Oshun said around Gideon’s shouts. When the line went dead, Oshun put the phone down and looked at her sister conspiratorially but didn’t say a word.
“He sounded angry,” Ecko said nervously.
“Oh, he is—extremely—but not at us,” Oshun answered. Ecko relaxed back into her chair immediately, breathing again. They would catch hell from Emani if they had angered Gideon.
“Well, what’s going on? Does he want another report?”
“No, we have a change of assignment. A drastic change of assignment.” The brash excitement in Oshun’s eyes burned like black fire.
“A change of assignment? We’re going home in a couple of weeks. Where does he want us to go now? We’ve been all over China! I can’t stand to learn another dialect,” Ecko whined.
“No, we’re done here. You and I are leaving in one hour. How do you feel about committing a little espionage?” Oshun asked. Ecko, still bewildered, watched her sister dial her phone again.
“Hello, yes, I need to charter a private jet … To Mexico … as soon as possible … Name your price.”