"Why?"
Amanda Hawthorne was stunned by the answer. She'd already surveyed the area and saw no one was standing guard nearby. If they were just careful, they could slip through the backstreets and alleys to the port, find an outbound passenger ship, and simply pay to get aboard!
The inspections here weren't as strict as back home. As long as you had the money, you could leave, no matter who you were.
Besides, she checked for surveillance or listening devices every time she returned to their place. There was no reason to fear being overheard.
'It's a perfectly good plan. Why does she say we can't escape?'
Amanda Hawthorne's sister, Isabelle Hawthorne, rose from the sofa. She walked to the window, yanked open the curtains, and pointed outside. "This entire area is Big Sis's territory. Even the port belongs to her. Anyone you run into on the street could be one of her people. What makes you think you can hide anything from her?"
