29° (Twenty-Nine Degrees) (Twenty Nine Book 3)

by Nancy Pennick

  “He can move his parents into the White House. Although I picture your mom dusting and straightening the place. Sorry.” Kim giggled, and it broke the somber mood.

  “You may be right. In Doug’s mind, that might finally impress them. But if he really knew my parents, he’d know he didn’t have to do anything. They try their best to love us all equally.” I let out a breath of frustration then smiled. “I know what you mean about Mom.” I looked at Kim, and we laughed.

  The guys and Ashley came out to the porch. They'd probably heard us, providing a good cover-up for the real reason for the walk.

  “Remember what I said.” I squeezed Kim’s hand. “I’m here for you.”

  Sean, too preoccupied talking with Lucas, bounded down the steps to take Kim’s hand when they finished. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “Later.” He waved as the two of them walked down the street, heading for their house.

  I looked at everyone, all eyes were on me. I knew I needed to give an explanation. “The truth? As I promised since I returned from New York?”

  Their heads nodded as one. Ash folded her arms and Lucas came down the steps to guide me inside. “I have the news conference saved whenever you’re ready to watch. That’s why you left, right?”

  “One of the reasons.” I took in a deep breath and let it out. “After my talk with Mom, I found out that Doug’s been looking for Kim. I don’t think he’ll give up. I wanted her to know. She feels she needs to go home, make an appearance then say her goodbyes. She’ll sell her condo and act like she needs to start over somewhere else.”

  “That’s a good plan,” Ashley said. “So no running away is involved?” She looked at me out of the corner of her eye.

  “No! Stop it.” I laughed, hoping she was joking. I’d promised to never take the blame and run away again.”

  Lucas held up a finger. “Wait a second. I have a voice message.” He tilted his head as he listened, brow furrowed. “Sean just left me a message. They’re leaving tomorrow,” he said. “And he says don’t try to stop them.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I will uphold the duties of this office and serve the people of our country to the best of my abilities until President Roth and Vice President Bradford are found and safely returned to office.” I watched Doug’s face for any flinches or signs of a lie but found none.

  “So you think they’re still alive?” a reporter asked Doug during a news conference after the swearing-in ceremony.

  “Of course. There were no signs of a crash landing anywhere between here and Cuba. We have a search team scouting potential areas. They’ve been given instructions not to stop until the president and vice president are found.”

  “Do you know how or why they returned from Cuba on the same plane?” another reporter asked.

  “No, I do not.” Doug shook his head and stared down at the podium as if in great pain.

  “Liar!” I shouted at the screen. “You know he had something to do with this.” I turned to Lucas.

  “Yes, you’re right. Just wait.”

  I wrinkled my brow. “What more can he say?”

  Lucas fast forwarded to a spot in the speech and froze the screen. “Ready?”

  I nodded and waited.

  “Keeping America safe is my number one priority during this time. As president, I’ve been given access to all security issues. I’m sorry to say we’ve had a real threat against the United States, and I am surprised it’s been kept from the people. I can’t say from where due to security reasons, but when the time is right I will be giving further instructions to the people of our great country.”

  A woman held up her hand. “Instructions, Mr. President? Care to elaborate?”

  “I can tell you this. My work with the STF, the Special Task Force for those that aren’t familiar, has given me access to new weaponry and protective devices. Of course, we can’t protect the whole country.” He gave a sly smile. “But we can protect our major cities.”

  “So the people in the cities will be safe, but if you live in a suburb or in the country you won’t?” she asked

  “That is not completely true. We will do our best to protect the nation, no matter where you live.”

  The woman still stood at her seat. “Please explain then, sir. You may have started riots in the streets with your comment.”

  “No need to riot.” Doug looked directly into the camera lens. “People of America … New America … you will be safe. I have a team in place to ensure your safe arrival to one of our major cities if the need arises. As I said before, instructions will be given in a day or so.”

  A man hopped up from his seat. “And why should we believe you? President Roth gave no indication of a terror threat.”

  “I don’t like to keep people in the dark,” Doug answered. “I believe in transparency. Let me tell you this, a real threat has been made. I have the ability to protect this country. Please trust me, and do not panic.” He looked over at Randolph who stood to the side of him. “Tomorrow? Does that give us enough time?” Randolph nodded. “I will complete this speech tomorrow with full details.” He stepped down from the podium as reporters shouted questions at him.

  “What just happened?” I grabbed Lucas by the arm.

  “He’s starting his takeover plan. First he needs control. Scare the people. Getting them to live in major cities is a good idea.”

  “Is there room for us all?”

  “Who said we’d go?” Lucas gave me a surprised look.

  “Me! We have to! Think about it, Lucas. Doug is looking for Niners. He’s only doing this to get us out in the open. If we don’t show up?” I lifted my shoulders.

  “He’ll come looking for us, and maybe find this compound.”

  “Right! And the other one that I have no idea where it is.”

  “And we’ll keep it that way.” Lucas took me by the arms and pressed his lips to my forehead. “Allie, I’ve got to go. Julian and I need to make our own plans.”

  “I wish Sean was here! I hate that they left so quickly.” I covered my face.

  Lucas rubbed my arms. “Take a breath. We need you thinking clearly.”

  I dropped my hands and inhaled. “You’re right. I’ll stop by Headquarters as soon as I talk with Ash. We have kids to think about and our families are out there in the real world.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you soon.” Lucas kissed me, bringing me close to his body. “I love you, Allie. I hope I tell you enough.”

  “And I love you. I never tell you enough.” I kissed his lips again. “I was hoping to plan our future now we were back home.” I raised my eyebrows. “Like adding a little girl to the family?”

  “We still can,” Lucas whispered. “Wherever we are is home. Remember that.” He gave me a squeeze then let me go. I watched as he left the house wondering where home would be in the upcoming month.

  * * * *

  The Niners gathered at Headquarters to hear Julian and Lucas speak. The fourth floor was filled with men of all ages. Ashley and I squeezed through the crowd to stand off to the side.

  Julian held up his hand, ready to address the throng of men. “Hopefully we can answer questions that have risen over these past two weeks and solve some problems today. We know this is an STF tactic to flush us out and we have decided to comply. Everyone from the Montana compound will go to New York City, one of the chosen cities on the STF list. Nothing of importance is to be left behind in case they find the compound during our absence.”

  I flashed back to Doug’s second speech. Names of major cities scrawled across the bottom of the screen as he spoke. He said each one had an STF protective bomb shield installed, covering the complete city, with STF personnel in charge. People would be safe in these areas. A few bombs had gone off in various states during the past weeks to prove there was a real crisis. We believed Doug had wanted to make a point since he’d used the silent bombs that detected human presence so no one had been killed. A few people were in hospitals having been too close at the t
ime of explosion, but no one was seriously hurt.

  “The president says this is a temporary measure until he is sure the threat is gone. We know better. He wants to weaken the will of the people and get them under his control,” Julian continued. “Be careful out there. Some may be spies. As for housing? We learned it will be in the form of hotels and other unoccupied buildings so don’t take too much with you.” He turned to Lucas and nodded.

  Lucas stepped forward. “Please do not hesitate to turn to us for help once we arrive. We have to stick together. We only know what we’ve been told during the presidential press conferences, just like you. We were given two weeks to prepare, and now the time has come for us to leave Victorian Village. The tunnels will be the only entrances to New York City, giving them much needed control. You will not be let in any other way. Checkpoints have been set up in front of the tunnels where you’ll register with the STF. They will assign you living quarters before you’re let into the city.” He stood quietly then said, “Born a Niner. Die a Niner.”

  Voices joined in, chanting the words louder and louder. Tears filled my eyes. I expected them to turn on me, standing here in such a large group. Surely, one Niner would place blame on me. But as they left the room, some nodded at me with sympathetic eyes or touched my arm in solidarity. The world would be lucky to have these Niner men in their midst. I stood off to the side, waiting for Lucas. After he finished speaking with the last man, he motioned to me. “I guess we better take my advice and go home and pack.”

  “After all we've been through, I never thought this would happen.” I rested my head on his shoulder as he slipped his arm around me.

  “I know.” Lucas let out a breath. “He’s got us for now, but we’ll come up with something.” He shifted so he could look at me. “This is between you and me. We don’t want the group here to panic. All Niner compounds across the world are shutting down communications so they won’t be found. No one will be there to help us. We’ll keep the main chip running here in Montana so our Niner family can stay linked in New York.”

  “What about the other U.S. compound?”

  “It’s shutting down communications, but not leaving for the big cities. Don’t forget the people who lived at Patriot Village are out there in the real world. We’ve suggested they choose New York, too. Hopefully, Doug will think that’s all of us.”

  “Why aren’t we going to go to LA or Seattle like the rest of the state?”

  “The STF made assignments, but left a door open for special cases. It’s in the fine print. Doug did it for us, I think.” Lucas lifted his shoulders.

  “I’m glad you picked New York because I've lived and worked there. Mom told me that’s where they’re headed. Doug wants them there because he made it his home base.” I slapped my forehead. “We’re playing right into his hands. He made sure Mom told me where they’d go.”

  “I’d rather be where he is, Allie.” Lucas hugged me, wrapping his arms around me in a gentle hold.

  Reality dawned on me. “For the first time in your Niner life, you don’t have an answer, do you?”

  “No, love,” Lucas said as he squeezed me tightly. “No, I don’t.”

  * * * *

  The long lines traveled from the start of the Lincoln Tunnel uphill to Kingswood Road and beyond. “We’ll never get through this line today, Lucas.” I looked at him as he stood calmly holding Zak. After six weeks, their hair had begun to grow and cover their heads. I almost had gotten used to the bald look, but in the sweltering sun was glad they had some protection.

  “It will go fast.”

  “If you say so.” I peered down the street toward the separate tunnels embedded into the earth and saw buses parked by them. Once we arrived at our destination we’d be trapped in the city. The only way out was by tunnel, boat or bridge. “How will he feed everyone? Food will eventually become scarce.”

  “Everything should be good for a while. We’ll probably be issued food coupons.”

  “Lucas, you are too calm about all this,” I hissed.

  “What do you want me to do,” he whispered. “Start a fight? Get thrown in jail so I can’t protect the ones I love?”

  “No.” I folded my arms as Zak played with my hair. My brown locks had grown past my shoulders, and I had pulled my hair into in a high ponytail. At least it kept him occupied and helped him pass the time.

  As we grew closer, I noticed some Niner families being separated from the masses and sent to another line. I looked up at Lucas with questioning eyes.

  He shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out when we get there.”

  The STF staff was efficient. We ended up at the front of the line in an hour. I noticed they had each person extend their arms then the staffer waved a wand over the wrist area. They’re looking for our chips! I cringed when it was my turn.

  “Step over to that line, miss.” The woman said in a deadpan voice.

  Lucas went next, but held Zak away from her. “He doesn’t have what you’re looking for,” he growled.

  “We have to do every person, sir—man, woman and child.” She stared at him. Zak held out both arms, and she scanned him. “He’s a well-behaved child. Since he’s with you, he’ll have to go on to the other line.” She gestured to where I stood.

  We inched along and as we came closer I could see what was happening. An STF worker held a device where our chips were implanted, probably dissolving them. Thanks to their Niners they had the capability.

  “Well, there goes that idea,” Lucas whispered to me. “No way to communicate.”

  Each staff member wore a dark blue baseball cap emblazoned with STF in gold lettering. I couldn’t see their faces unless they looked up. When my turn came, I was waved over to a station with a short line, and Lucas followed. The man glanced up from what he was doing and our eyes connected. “Josh!”

  “Allie?” He looked me up and down then smiled. “Welcome to New York City. You’ve got one of those chips in your wrist?” His eyes flicked to Lucas. “Shoulda guessed.”

  “Please, Josh, don’t do it.” I held my arm to my chest. I need to fight for this. There may be a way to use the chip in the coming weeks. I pleaded with him, begging him with my eyes. “If you were ever a friend or in love—”

  “Fine. Go. I don’t know what those things do, but one won’t hurt. You can’t communicate with anyone else.”

  “Thank you. I owe you.”

  “What about the kid?” His voice sounded serious but there was a twinkle in his eye.

  “He doesn’t have one. We’d never implant a chip in a baby,” I answered.

  “Good to hear.” He nodded as he dissolved Lucas’ chip then punched some keys on a machine next to him. Three laminated badges came out one side. He clipped each one onto a lanyard and handed them to us. “Put these on. They’re your identification and have your housing assignment on them. He pointed to a bus at the end of the row. “That’s the next one up.”

  My heart was heavy as I walked toward the bus. “I can’t believe he joined the STF, Lucas.”

  “At your mom’s party, he was pretty adamant. I’m glad he did now.”

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t still have this.” I bent my arm up to look at my wrist.

  A woman waved at us. “This bus is leaving soon. Hurry up if you want to get on.” Her voice sounded so familiar, I checked Lucas’ expression to see if he felt the same.

  “It’s Kim! Don’t act like you know her,” he said.

  “Kim? In less than two weeks, she’s with the STF?” I growled.

  “May I see your credentials?” Kim asked. I handed her my freshly made card. “Better slip this on.” She handed it back to me. “The bus will drop you off at Ninth and you’ll walk to your housing assignment from there. Welcome to New York City.”

  “Kim, you traitor, I trusted you.” I said under my breath, hoping she'd heard. She made no indication she had, but I heard footsteps follow after me.

  “Allie!”

  I spun around giving her my bes
t angry face. “What?” I almost didn’t recognize her with no make-up and her dark hair pulled back, tucked into a bun under the STF baseball cap.

  “I had to, Allie I did it for you.”

  “No, Kim, you didn't! You chose Doug over us.” I turned toward the bus and boarded.

  Lucas had found a seat and lifted his hand when he saw me. “What’d she say?” he asked.

  “Some garbage. She did it for us.”

  “Maybe she did.” Lucas’ dark brown eyes glistened with tears. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  I slipped my hand into his. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I know this is hard on you. The Niner way of life has been constantly changing since the STF started hunting you. Before, you lived a pretty simple routine life.”

  He said nothing, just stared out the bus window. “Looks like Tobias made it through. He’s headed for the bus.”

  It had been decided that each family would travel on their own and show no friendship toward other Niners. We were sure Doug had created the special Niner line so he could watch for those connections in addition to dissolving our chips. Tobias nodded as he walked down the bus aisle and sat across from us.

  “Tob …” Zak’s mouth was covered by Lucas’ hand before he could finish.

  “Sorry, little man. Remember what Da told you?”

  Zak’s dark eyes widened. “Bad Doug.”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  “Is this the way we have to bring up our child?” I whispered to Lucas. “He’s still a baby.”

  “No, he isn’t, Allie. He has a good understanding of what’s going on. Look at him. He’s barely eighteen months in real years but looks like a three-year-old.”

  Zak smiled at me. “Don’t worry, Mommy.” He nodded his little head. “I’m good.”

  “Okay, if you say so.” I reached for his not so chubby hand and kissed the top. “But remember to use your baby talk. You’re starting to sound too old for your age.”

  He gave me a stern look from under hooded eyes. “Not dumb.”