by Tracy Lawson
“I don’t believe you could make that up, so it must be true.” She crawled back under the covers and pulled the pillow over her head. She lay silent for a few minutes, and when she spoke, her voice was muffled. “That’s why I feel so awful. I’m not done puking yet, am I?”
“Not even close.”
As if on cue, she suppressed a burp, scrambled out of bed, and ran back into the bathroom. Between the bouts of nausea, she lay with her cheek pressed against the cool tile floor. When she was sure it was over for good, she rose and brushed her teeth before returning to bed and propping herself up against the pillows. “Last night I dreamed my mom was dead.” Her heart sank when he didn’t answer. “It wasn’t a dream, was it?”
He shook his head and pushed himself up to sit beside her.
She buried her face in her hands. “The last thing I ever said to her was that I wished she’d died instead of my dad.”
“You didn’t mean it.”
“Yes, I did.” She sniffled. “I absolutely did mean it. But now I wish I could take it back.” Her tears spilled over, and he held her while she cried.
When at length she drew a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes on the sheet, he got up and tossed her a protein bar and a bottle of water from the pile on the desk. She sipped some water. “She thought I hated her.”
“No. She knew you didn’t hate her. When Atari and I met with her, she was worried about you, and she didn’t hesitate when we asked for her help.”
“When she showed up at PeopleCam, I never suspected what she was trying to do. It was brave, and I wish I could let her know I appreciate it.” Her tears started again. “I’m an orphan. I never had the kind of family I wanted. Now I don’t have anyone.”
“But you do—you have all of us in the Resistance. We’re a great big dysfunctional mess. The very definition of family.”
That made her weep harder. “I nearly destroyed the Resistance too. I mess up everything.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “No, you don’t. You need to stop torturing yourself. Rewrite your story. Change the history between you and your mom. Change it between you and Madalyn. Hell, change it between you and me if you need to.”
“I told the QM where to find Resistance headquarters.”
“But that doesn’t matter, because the QM never arrested any of us except Dad, and he turned himself in, so that doesn’t count.”
She sniffled. “So what you’re saying is, I sent the QM on a wild goose chase after the Resistance?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Exactly.”
“I knuckled under and did what Madalyn said … for self-preservation. I didn’t let her break me. I survived until you helped me escape.” She pounded her fists on her knees in frustration. “Still I kept demanding to go back.”
“But you didn’t go back! You’re still here. Still fighting. And you’re getting more like your old self every day. Last night, you proved that you’re able to express your true feelings.”
His smug tone made her nervous. “What did I do?”
“Well, you tried to kiss me and gave the impression that you were up for just about anything.”
She ducked her head, too embarrassed to look at him.
He nudged her with his shoulder. “But I convinced you the timing was off. All we did last night was sleep.”
“I wish I could change what happened when you helped me escape.”
“How?”
“I’d want you to take off your mask right away so I’d know it was you. And I’d say thank you.”
For the first time, the Link on her wrist felt like a threat to her autonomy. She picked at it, but of course it didn’t budge. He seemed to understand and covered the plastic band with his hand as if to make it disappear. The warmth of his touch and his nearness flooded her with the will to act on her feelings, and as she lifted her face, his blue eyes locked on hers.
His lips were tantalizingly close. “I want you to remember this moment, okay?”
She nodded. His request puzzled her, but the kiss that followed made perfect sense.
Chapter 18
11:15 AM
Quadrant BG-098
Trina, Grace, and David ate while watching PeopleCam. They had been in the bunker for weeks and hadn’t made a dent in the seemingly endless supply of MREs. Trina often dreamed about Lara’s lasagna and craved salads and fresh produce. Today, as she took another forkful of the “Meatballs, Beef and Rice” on her plate, her thoughts were on the Christmas dinners she’d shared with her family as a child.
Sheila Roth read from the teleprompter, “President Christopher Wright’s final State of the Union address will be delivered on New Year’s Eve at nine p.m. Eastern time.” She turned to Pete. “Seems unusual, doesn’t it? But I suppose there’s no better day to evaluate the past year and look toward the future. President Wright is expected to discuss the continuing role of the Essential Services Department and recent changes to the pending Cerberean Link program.”
“Perhaps we’ll all want a stiff drink to ring in the new year when he’s done speaking, Sheila.” Pete turned toward the camera. “And in other news, could it be that the OCSD director senses a coming change in 2035?” Pete Sheridan’s voiceover accompanied several still photos of Madalyn opening a cardboard box, taking out the coins, and bending over in her high heels to try and scoop them up after they had spilled in the street. “Madalyn Davies was summoned to the main post office in DC-001 to pick up forty mysterious packages full of contraband coin. When she was here on PeopleCam just days ago she had some pretty harsh things to say about people who keep or use outlawed American coins. Wonder how she’s going to explain this away?”
Grace asked, “Did Mitch really give Madalyn a hundred and fifty coffee cans full of his life’s savings? He could’ve at least filled some of them with buckshot or something.”
David chuckled. “Buckshot’s worth more than the coins, and I’m pretty sure some of the cans were full of rocks, if you want to know the truth. But rocks spend just as easily.”
“Yes, but”—Trina couldn’t let it go—“doesn’t it seem kind of fatalistic of Mitch to give away all his money? Am I the only one who’s worried about him?”
On the screen, Pete gathered his papers and then suddenly burst out laughing. “Forty boxes of coins! And COD on top of that! Wonder what it cost for shipping and handling?”
“Well, of course she’s not going to pay for someone to ship her boxes of contraband! The very idea. I don’t think it’s funny at all, Pete.”
“Sheila, if I had a dollar for every time you saw the humor in a situation, I’d be broke.”
As Sheila began a heated retort, video cut off abruptly. Black and white snow dominated the screen for a moment before a message appeared, advising “Please Stand By. Experiencing Technical Difficulties.”
11:40 AM
Quadrant DC-005
“Okay, that was … wow!” Tommy sank back against the pillow, and Careen snuggled against him.
“I promised myself if we ever had another chance to be together, I wouldn’t waste it.”
He burst into laughter and sat up, clutching his stomach. He laughed for so long that she started to get mad, and finally he wiped his eyes and composed himself. “I’m sorry, but seriously? You’ve missed at least a dozen other opportunities so far, and those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.”
She slapped his shoulder but couldn’t help smiling. “Maybe I did, but I had to make sure I could trust you.”
“It was worth every second of waiting.” He pulled her into his arms again, and she laughed with him.
“Okay, all right. No more holding back. So what are we going to do about Atari?”
He glanced around. “Kick him out of our bed, for starters. He doesn’t belong in here, even in our conversations.”
“I’m serious. Should we leave? Maybe we can use our disguises and make it back to OP-439 without being recognized.”
“How about we try to c
lear the air with him first. We still don’t know why he and Mitch are so mad at each other. It might be even worse if we leave. We have no idea what’s going on in the world.”
She sighed. “I wish we never had to face the rest of the world.”
“I wouldn’t mind hiding out somewhere with you forever, but I hope one day soon we won’t have to.” He looked serious for a moment, and then a playful quirk of his eyebrow made her smile. “Before we talk to Atari, can I interest you in another act of rebellion against the OCSD’s pathological need to control us?”
“Wow, that’s some proposition. Why not woo me by professing your undying love and affection? Or suggesting that it would be fun?”
He gave her a squeeze. “Oh, fun is definitely on the agenda.”
“I never know when to take you seriously.”
“I’m one hundred percent serious.” Their eyes met, and her pulse quickened at the intensity of his gaze. “I love you, Careen. I never stopped—not for a second.”
“I love you too.”
His face relaxed in a grin. “Just so you know, I’ve never said that to anyone before, except my family.”
“Me either.”
She turned her face up to his, and the touch of his lips was so gentle that she was the one who pushed the intensity up a notch. His kisses trailed down the side of her neck to her collarbone, and she shuddered as he whispered, “They don’t own you, and they can’t have you.”
10:45 AM
Wednesday, December 27, 2034
Quadrant OP-439
On the drive back from the capital, Tom dozed off in the back seat. When Eduardo nudged him, he opened his eyes and the flashing lights brought him back to full awareness in an instant. He sat up and stared out the car window. Four patrol cars blocked the street in front of his house. Another was parked on his lawn.
Marshals in bulletproof vests swarmed around the perimeter of the property and through the front door, which had been knocked completely off its hinges.
He gripped Eduardo’s arm. “Lara and Jaycee—”
“I don’t see them anywhere. Let’s hope they decided to stay at my place.”
The driver maneuvered past the scene. “Looks like we need a different final destination for you fellas.”
Eduardo recited his address.
When they pulled up in front of the apartment building, there were no signs of marshals about. They burst through the door and found Lara watching PeopleCam in Eduardo’s shabby, but now spotless, living room.
Tom forgot he’d been angry with her. “Oh, thank God you’re safe! They raided our house again this morning.” He rushed over to embrace her.
She returned the hug. “Oh, no. Not again! There’s nothing left for them to ruin. But yes, we’re fine. We’ve been here the whole time. It’s been quiet, actually.”
“Where’s Jaycee?”
“She’s still asleep. How was your meeting?”
“Fruitful. We need to get some information to Mitch. Can you reach him?”
She opened her laptop. “I can certainly try. Do you want to talk to him on speaker, or would you prefer a more private conversation?”
“Speaker is fine.”
She placed the call, and when Mitch answered, Tom shared his news. “Eduardo and I have just returned from the capital. We’ve got the perfect location and situation for Trina’s part of the plan. The president will be giving his State of the Union address on New Year’s Eve. That will give us a live audience as well as television viewers. Atari will need to have the video ready.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out without me.”
“I found the president quite willing to listen to our ideas, and I assumed we would all be participating.”
“I don’t like putting my trust in a politician.”
“This is a good thing for the Resistance. Instead of being regarded as a crazy fringe group, we can have a voice and a chance to shape the future of the country in the post-OCSD era.”
“Sounds like you’re selling out to me. Hell, a few weeks ago you tried to cozy up to Madalyn.”
“If you must know, I was negotiating with Madalyn only to try and curb your propensity toward violence. We’re not supposed to be terrorists, yet that’s how we’re portrayed. People fear us, and they’ll only listen to our ideas if we’re sanctioned by someone like the president, someone they perceive as a legitimate leader.
“When Trina confronts Madalyn during the State of the Union address, it will bring Madalyn’s treachery to light in a public arena. Best case, Trina and Careen will be cleared of wrongdoing. It could even lead to the abolishment of the Restrictions and take power away from the OCSD. It meets all our goals.”
“Government’s full of people you can’t trust.”
Tom clenched his fists in frustration, and Eduardo spoke up. “But can we count on you? We need you to carry out your part of the plan.”
Mitch grumbled. “Nonviolent revolution hinges on compromise. We won’t end up getting what we want unless we fight for it. Fighting’s noble. It’s the world’s second oldest profession.”
Tom sighed. “We’re taking advantage of the opportunity presented. We’ll expect you and Trina in the capital in time to get set up before the State of the Union address.”
“I can do that.”
Lara asked, “Do you want to talk to Jaycee? I’ll go wake her.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Lara left the room, but she was back in seconds. “She’s not in her bed.”
Tom looked around. “Where could she have gone?”
Lara clapped a hand to her mouth.
“Did you lose my kid?” Mitch sounded less than pleased.
“No, of course not.” Tom could tell she was lying. “I forgot she had planned to go visit Danni today. It’s not far. She probably left while I was in the shower.”
10:53 AM
Jaycee walked down the sidewalk toward her mother’s house, hands shoved deep in her coat pockets. Two workmen installing a scanner on the corner watched her pass. She felt their eyes on her halfway down the block. They’re wondering if I’m Linked, I bet. Will I show up on the scanner, or am I old enough not to? She quickened her pace. I’m old enough to take charge of my own life. It’s none of their damn business.
Beth greeted her at the back door with a hug.
“Did you sign the papers?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Come in.” Jaycee followed her to the front of the house, where a man in a dark suit and Quadrant Marshal Henry Nelson waited in the living room.
The marshal eyed her. “I remember you. From the funeral.”
Oh, crap. “I can come back when your company’s gone.” She tried to bolt for the door, but Beth gripped her shoulder.
The man in the suit spoke. “You’re welcome to stay, young lady. In fact, we insist.” Beth guided her to the sofa and sat beside her.
Jaycee whispered, “What’s going on?”
Beth spoke rapidly. “Jaycee, listen to me. Your father has let his hatred of the OCSD blind him, and he’s left you unprotected. What if something were to happen to him? Who would take care of you? I hope you never have to find out how hard it is to be alone.”
“What do you mean, if something happens to him?”
“Hypothetically speaking, of course, if something happened to him you’d have no resources except your own wits. I can make sure you’re protected and provided for. You need a debit account. We need to enroll you in school too.”
She tried to shrug off the hand on her arm. “No, ma’am, that’s not necessary. My daddy already saw to my education. I finished the high school requirements last year when I was fourteen.”
“Well, then we can make application to the university. Perhaps there’s still time to enroll for spring semester.”
“I don’t want to go to college right now.”
The marshal’s phone pinged with an incoming text. He read it and swore. “There was no one at the Bailey house.”
; The man in the suit glared at Beth. “Did you warn them?”
“No!” She shrank away from him, turning her body as though to shield Jaycee from a blow.
Nelson strode over and pulled Jaycee up off the sofa. “Where are the Baileys?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know!” Jaycee sank her teeth into Nelson’s arm. He roared in pain, and with a practiced motion she she threw an elbow at his solar plexus and then drove the heel of her hand into his nose. She ran for the door, but the man in the suit dragged her back into the room.
Beth stood, hands to her mouth, watching but doing nothing as Jaycee fought to free herself. Nelson, a trickle of blood running from his nose, stepped up and backhanded her across the face. Beth cried out as though it was she who had been struck.
Jaycee remained silent and faced the marshal like a cornered animal, prepared to die fighting.
The man in the suit nodded to Nelson. “Do it.”
Beth stepped between them. “Wait. You said it wasn’t necessary. You agreed to let her go.”
Nelson wiped at his nose. “It’s required now. She assaulted an officer.” He took her by the other arm, and she twisted in their grasp, her feet lifting off the floor as they wrestled her into a chair. The man in the suit held her by the shoulders as Nelson pushed up her left sleeve.
Chapter 19
9:02 AM
Thursday, December 28, 2034
Quadrant DC-001
Sheila Roth sat alone at the anchor desk. “The response to the Link has been overwhelming! It’s too bad it wasn’t fully operational in time to save Careen Catecher, who has now been missing for ten days and is most certainly out of the picture. It won’t be long until safety and security become the norm for every American child.
“In other news, OCSD Director Madalyn Davies was the victim of an annoying little prank this week. An investigation is underway to find the person or persons who mailed her boxes of contraband coin.”
Pete Sheridan watched from behind the glass in the studio director’s booth. When the broadcast cut away to the regional weather reports, he wandered down the hall and glanced around before locking himself into Editing Bay Ten.