by Tracy Lawson
“Oh, I see how it is. You’re just here to spy on me. And here I thought maybe you missed me too.”
“I don’t usually like people enough to miss them.”
“Burn.”
“Truth.” She grasped his arm to make sure she had his attention. “Have you finished the video for New Year’s Eve?”
“Yes. Yes! Almost. Mitch just sent me the rest of the video. Did you come up here to pepper me with questions? All work and no play, baby!” He tried to pull her closer, but she shook him off again.
“I’m here because rumor has it you’re going to go against Mitch’s orders and activate the Link. If you do, I’m screwed. Most of the people I work with are trying like hell not to get Linked. They’re afraid. It’s getting harder to get people to aid the Resistance. It’s weakening our numbers.”
“See, I heard just the opposite. People are clamoring to be Linked. They’ve had a sip of Madalyn’s Kool-Aid, and now they’re knocking kiddies out of the way to grab the ultimate personal security device for themselves. So I’m giving them what they want.”
“That’s not going to solve anything.”
“The people who are crying for Links want to be taken care of and kept safe from harm—even though it’s freaking impossible. They don’t get it, and I’m giving up. Let them be Linked.”
“You’re insane.”
“Linked will become the new normal. After a while, everyone will forget what life was like before.”
“Do your job for the Resistance so I can do mine.”
“You haven’t been around lately, Danni, and that leads me to assume you’ve been doing your job on someone new. Pillow talk is when lovers—or whatever it is we were—share secrets. I could’ve told you that it doesn’t matter how many shipments of Links you hijack. The Resistance might delay it, but no one—not even me—can stop it. So I’m going to do what I have to do. We’re past the point of no return, baby. Mitch has no one but himself to blame. He put me on this project in the first place. So come on, sit back, and enjoy the ride.”
“You son of a bitch.”
His laugh was mocking. “Names will never hurt me. I know you crave power as much as I do, and I admire you for who and what you are. Come rule the world with me. I’d rather share it with you than someone weak like Careen.”
She fled, and before she knew it, she was in her truck and roaring out of the parking garage. Helplessness and loss, emotions she’d vowed to keep permanently at bay, overwhelmed her, and she cried.
Chapter 22
7:38 AM
Saturday, December 30, 2034
Tommy hit the gym with purpose and went through a strength-training workout he’d done many times during his years playing football. Watching Careen run on the track was an added bonus. When he was done with his circuit, he joined her, and she slowed to his pace.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I feel so much better now that Danni’s here.”
“Yeah, me too. We’ll finally get a chance to talk to Mitch. Want to walk together for a while?”
“No.” She swatted his arm. “Tag! You’re it!” She dashed ahead and he gave chase, working hard to catch up to her by the second turn. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground.
“Oh, ow, ow!”
He released her immediately. “Shoot! Sorry, I forgot about your ribs.”
“Just kidding. They don’t hurt anymore.”
“No fair!”
She threw up her hands in mock surrender. He laced his fingers with hers, pulling her closer, and kissed the side of her neck. She giggled and took off again. “Come on. I was going to run the stairs.”
She led the way to the rooftop, where they burst out into the solarium.
She gasped with delight. “It’s snowing!” She ran to open one of the louvered windows and took a deep breath. “It smells so clean!”
“It’s real snow this time.”
“Yeah, none of that black stuff I saw when we were on CSD.”
They watched as the snowflakes struck the glass walls and ceiling, melted, and ran down in rivulets. She held her palms against the pane. “I can almost feel it.” Without warning, she whirled around and pressed both hands to Tommy’s cheeks. He yelped at the cold and pulled away, and she giggled as she advanced again and tried to put her hand inside his sweatshirt.
He laughed as he twisted away from her. “Okay, now you’re asking for it.”
“Oh yeah?” She dodged as he made a grab for her and stayed just out of reach as she led him across the solarium, grinning all the while.
He rushed her, feinted right, and when she turned to the left, he tackled her low and flipped her over his shoulder, reveling in her laughter and the way she shrieked when he pretended he was going to drop her. When he deposited her on a chaise lounge, she scooted over to make room for him and they snuggled close. Her kisses were warm and cold at the same time, and her frosty breath mingled with his as they clung to each other.
Ever since the day he’d tossed her over his shoulder and carried her across the PeopleCam parking lot to the getaway van, he’d been holding back, letting her set the pace for their interactions. Well, except for that first kiss. But that didn’t really count. He’d gotten used to the feeling that she was going to throw on the brakes. But not for the past few days. Now when he kissed her it was like picking up speed while riding down a steep hill. He’d had no problem getting used to that.
She draped one leg over his hip, and he was ready to drop back the adjustable chair as far as it would go when Atari’s voice echoed across the room.
“There you are!” He hurried toward them. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I thought you’d left too.”
He sat up. “What? Did Danni leave?”
“Yeah, she’s gone.”
Careen’s smile faded. “Umm … she didn’t say goodbye.”
“Yeah. She never does.” Atari looked lost for a second, and then he snapped back to his usual brusque self. “Well, just wanted to check and make sure. Carry on. Or whatever.” He left as abruptly as he’d come in. Careen sat up on the chaise, the mood definitely gone.
“She never told us what we should do. She didn’t let us talk to Mitch or anyone.”
“Hey.” He tried to reclaim her attention.
“What?”
“Once, a long time ago, we didn’t know what was going to happen to us when we ran out of CSD. We were so afraid we hid under the dining room table like little kids. Remember?”
“Of course.”
“And what happened? Nothing. We didn’t die.”
“I wouldn’t call it nothing. A lot of awful things have happened since then.”
“And good things too. My point is, we’re still here. I had fun this morning just doing normal stuff with you.
“When the OCSD makes decisions on our behalf, they say they’re helping us. We know they’re not interested in helping us. It’s all about controlling us. We can’t dwell on what we might not get to do in our lives. If we give up, we give those terrorists at the OCSD power.
“I’m not going to sit here and worry while I wait for something bad to happen. I want to make happy memories with you. I want to laugh. I want to kiss you in the snow—or at least in the solarium where we can see the snow, for now.”
He claimed her lips and closed his eyes, feeling her warmth close to him and the chill of the air that swept in the open window.
She broke off with a little sob. “Until the Link means we can’t be together anymore.”
“We don’t know that will happen.” He took her by the shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “For now, we can keep training and prepare ourselves so we’re ready to fight if we need to.”
8:24 AM
Quadrant OP-439
Jaycee tried not to tug at the Link that was cinched tight around her left wrist. The marshal and her mother’s husband let her go, and she knew they could reel her back in whenever they felt like it once the Link was act
ivated. She’d run as fast as she could in the opposite direction from Eduardo’s apartment, checking over her shoulder until she was sure no one was tailing her. Even now, almost a week later, she choked back the bile that rose in her throat as she imagined Tom and Lara’s reaction. She couldn’t bring herself to tell them. Not yet, anyway. As awful as that would be, it was dread of her father’s reaction that made her wish she’d be struck down by lightning so she’d never have to tell him. She’d told herself to quit being a crybaby and had wandered through the market and past the shops around the university every chance she got, searching for the one person she could tell.
She found Danni nursing a mug of coffee in a booth at the pop-up coffee shop. At the sight of her cousin, her resolve to be brave wilted again. Danni was far tougher than she. Jaycee slid in across from her. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you for days!”
“What’s the matter?”
Her chin trembled, and she didn’t trust herself to speak. Without a word, she pushed up her coat sleeve.
Danni’s voice was full of anger, not the sympathy she’d hoped for. “Oh, perfect! Glad to see you can take care of yourself.”
“Help me.”
“I can’t.”
“You’ve got to!”
“I don’t know what you expect me to do.”
“Call your boyfriend.”
Danni blanched at the word.
“You know, the bomber guy. I heard Daddy talking about you and him. He’s the only one who can help me.” Tears ran down her cheeks, and she wiped her nose on her sleeve.
Danni handed her a napkin and hissed, “Stop sniveling. People are looking at you.” She sighed and scooted out of the booth, and Jaycee followed her outside. “What happened?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
Danni’s phone rang, and she held up a hand for Jaycee’s silence. When she answered, her tone was carefully neutral. “Hello?”
She listened for a moment. “He did? Where? Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Danni led her to the truck. “Come on. Tell me what happened while I drive you to Eduardo’s.”
“I did the one thing Daddy told me not to do. Now I’ll never be able to be in the Resistance. My life is over. Nothing matters anymore!” Jaycee fell into Danni’s arms, sobbing.
10:52 AM
“Monroe? Jude Monroe. Last call, Monroe, if you wanna get out of here.”
Jude’s first attempt to answer was nothing but a raspy croak. Only one of his eyes would open, and he squinted against the glare of the uncovered light bulb overhead.
He cleared his throat and called, “I’m here. Coming.”
He tried to sit up, and the pain left him gasping. He clutched his ribs as he swung his legs off the bench one at a time.
“I’m here. I’m Jude Monroe.”
The marshal who opened the door leered at him. “Fat lot of good resisting did you. Idiot.”
Jude braced himself as he rose to his feet, and saw the flashing red light of the Link that now encircled his left wrist, visible just inside his coat sleeve.
“Stay outta trouble, kid, or you’ll be back here before you know it.”
Jude stood a little taller and forced himself not to wince in pain as he walked past the marshal. “Then I guess I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Danni was waiting for him on the other side of the door. She didn’t reach out to hug him or react to his appearance. He tugged his sleeve down as he approached.
“What’s happening? Have I been charged? When’s my arraignment?”
“The charges have been dropped. Let’s go.”
As soon as they were out of the building and headed toward her truck, he tried again. “Now will you tell me what happened?”
“You were charged with disorderly conduct and assaulting an officer, and that’s some serious trouble. It was hours before I could get anyone to talk to me. I bribed one of the marshals to drop the charges. Some of the others were able to post bail, and they were allowed to leave, too.”
“Things are bad. I’ve got to get back to the Distribution Center.” He eased himself into the passenger seat.
She came around to the driver’s side. “Think maybe you ought to clean up a little first? Or go to a hospital?”
“No, I need to go as I am.” He pulled back his sleeve, and tears sprang up in her eyes. It was the first time he’d seen her lose her composure. He beckoned for her to come closer and kissed her.
“I have to spread the word. They’re Linking everyone who gets arrested, and you know they’re not going to be broadcasting the fact on PeopleCam.”
“You’ll just get arrested again.”
“So what? They can only Link me once. I have to do everything I can to fight until the day they activate the Links. I have nothing else to lose.” Her face fell again. “Well, not nothing. If things were different ….” He kissed her again. “But what I want—what we want—doesn’t matter. This is my life, like it or not. I have an obligation to do what I can to warn people.”
She wished with all her heart that she could tell him the Link wouldn’t really be activated and be sure it was the truth. First Jaycee, and now Jude, was caught in the snare, and she was powerless to help them.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were going to commit like this.”
“Of course I was going to commit! Other than you, CXD is the most important things I’ve got going right now.”
She squeezed his hand. “It shouldn’t surprise me. You’ve been brave all along.”
“Gee, thanks.” He winced as she moved closer. “I gotta say, I’m glad I didn’t know this was going to happen to me when we hijacked the shipment of Links. It would’ve taken the fun out of it.”
Chapter 23
12:20 PM
Quadrant BG-098
The bunker’s metal door opened with a creak. Trina pulled up the hood on the oversized sweatshirt she’d borrowed from Mitch and drew in a breath of the crisp, clean air that smelled like snow, pine needles, and dead leaves.
David and Grace followed her, blinking in the sunlight. She cautioned, “Now, quiet. We don’t know if he’s still around.” Even though no one spoke, Trina was afraid the crunch of their footsteps could be heard miles away. It was easier to be quiet once they reached the downhill part of the hard, frozen trail. When the lake came into view David waved them to a halt and sat down on a big, flat rock with his hands on his knees.
Trina hadn’t liked Mitch when they’d first met, but she had been forced to trust him. He’d been the one to dress the bullet wound in her arm, and he’d surprised her with his knowledge and gentle touch. Though he’d been adept at doctoring her, she didn’t think he really cared about anyone. He’d had no qualms about encouraging the food shortage that had left millions of people without rations for over a week.
This business on the phone arranging some kind of takeover was scaring the hell out of her. She’d feel a lot better if she knew Tom was on board with it.
Once David was rested, they continued their descent, keeping close to the tree line as they had weeks before on their hasty flight into the woods.
Trina halted the party within sight of the barn. “He keeps all the keys on a hook by the walk-in. If he’s inside, you know what to tell him.”
Grace hugged her. “I wish we didn’t have to leave you. Are you sure you’re safe alone with him?”
“I don’t think he’ll do anything to sacrifice the plan. I need to be in the capital tonight, so we’ve got to leave soon anyway.”
She watched them until they were out of sight and then hid in the underbrush to wait. If something went wrong and Mitch forced David and Grace back up to the bunker, she’d make a break for it herself.
Ten minutes passed, and then she heard voices.
“Revolution’s a young man’s game, Mitch. I’m glad you understand that.”
Grace gushed, “I’m certainly willing to take our chances to get back to Virginia.
I’m never going to call it by a quadrant number again. We’re going home, and we’re proud to have done our part. Now it’s up to you, dear.”
“Thank you for loaning us the vehicle.”
“Be careful.” Mitch’s tone sounded normal.
She heard an engine start and listened until the sound faded away. Maybe if she waited, she could get a look inside his office in the rear of the barn.
“I hoped I’d find you here.” Trina jumped at the unfamiliar voice.
Oh, Lordy.
“Josephine?” Confused, Trina looked over her shoulder. “Wait, you’re not—”
A young quadrant marshal, no more than a kid, stood on the path. His smile faded and his eyes widened as recognition dawned.
Trina tried to keep him calm. “Who’s Josephine?”
“She works here. Her uncle’s the one who died.”
Trina jumped again as Mitch stepped up behind the boy and put him in a headlock, gripping him so fiercely that his feet lifted off the ground. “How do you know her? What do you want with her?”
The boy gasped, “I wanted to see if she was okay.” Mitch forced him into the barn, Trina at his heels. He shoved the boy to the ground and shut the door behind them.
He cowered. “Look, mister, I never—”
“Where’s your partner?”
“I’m off duty. This is—was—personal.” Mitch’s gaze turned murderous.
Trina grabbed Mitch’s arm. “Take it easy.” He turned that gaze on her, and her blood ran cold.
His voice was tight with fury. “It was pretty stupid of you to come down here. You do realize that now we’re going to have to take him with us?”
10:29 PM
Quadrant OP-439
Eduardo, Tom, and Lara returned to the Bailey house after curfew to sift through the devastation left by the raiding QM. Tom and Lara had drawn the curtains in the home office at the rear of the house, and were poring over what was left of Tom’s files when Eduardo heard a car pull up outside; the engine sputtered and was quiet. He hurried through the dark house and stood out of sight near the open front doorway, his flashlight raised like a club. “Who is it?” he said, his tone harsh.