Smoke (Smoke Series Book 1)

by Mariah Esterly

  She didn’t look up from the soapy water in front of her. “There was a contest at work,” she said carefully. “I won and the bus token was the prize.” Vail could tell that she was lying. There was no bus token. Or if there was, she hadn’t won it in a contest. Her family didn’t seem to notice the lie, and allowed her to stay far longer than they should have.

  Finally, when her grandfather had dozed off in a faded green armchair, and Gertie had done every conceivable chore that Vail could think of, she collected her now empty bags, and kissed her parents goodbye.

  As she bent to kiss her grandfather on the cheek, Vail moved from his spot in the corner on silent feet and headed in the direction of the door. Her grandfather stirred. Gertie placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him in place. “Don’t get up,” she murmured. “I’m going now. I’ll come back as soon as I can.

  “I’ll walk you out.” He tried to get up again, but she gently pushed him back down.

  “No, you won’t. I can make it down two flights of stairs on my own.”

  He reached up and covered her hand with his own work weathered one. “Listen, Gertie.” He kept his voice quiet so it wouldn’t carry. “Don’t pay any mind to your parents. Sometimes things skip a generation.”

  “I don’t know what you’re saying. But I’ll believe you.” She grinned.

  “At least let me stand up and give you a hug. I promise I won’t follow you down the stairs.” She laughed and stepped back, letting him wrap her in a hug that all but dwarfed her. “Take care of my girl.” He said, looking over her shoulder and directly at Vail.

  Vail froze, not quite sure what to do. There was no mistaking it. Somehow the old man could see him when no one else could. His heart was beating too fast. It seemed that the old man was waiting for some sort of response from him. So, Vail met the old man’s green eyes with his own grey ones and nodded slowly.

  That seemed to satisfy him. He released Gertie and stepped back from her. She kissed him on the cheek again, waved to her parents and then they were heading down the stairs. Vail trailed behind her, suddenly feeling that there was more to this girl than she let on.

  She paused outside of the building looking both ways before setting off in the direction of the checkpoint on foot.

  4

  Gertie

  Gertie was tired. Her body ached, and the idea of walking through two sections was almost enough to make her sit on the sidewalk and cry. She may have overdone it with the food this week. The walk back would be much easier, with only one package of cookies for her to carry. She wrapped her arms around her middle trying to fight off the damp cold of night, thankful that the earlier rain had stopped. Once she was moving she would warm up.

  She checked the time on her bracelet. She would have to hurry if she was going to make it through the second checkpoint before it closed. She quickened her pace and thought she heard someone behind her. She paused and turned, but the road was deserted.

  She started forward again. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being followed. But every time she turned there was no one there, just an empty street, the lights from the lamps above reflecting off the wet pavement.

  Gertie didn’t think she’d ever been happier to see a checkpoint in her life. She entered one of the small buildings that connected Section 4 to 3rd, squinting against the bright fluorescent lights until her eyes adjusted.

  The building was all but empty, just a few sleepy guards, and a handful of people that were passing through as she was. A quick glance at the clock on the wall, told her she would just be getting through by the skin of her teeth, only two minutes until midnight.

  She stepped into the short line and waited, eyeing the guards that stood on either side of the portal, guns held at the ready. In all of the times she’d passed through the checkpoint, she’d never seen the guards use the gun on a citizen, though she had heard of it happening on more than one occasion. Chancellor Duncan and the Quorum gave the guards full reign when it came to deadly force.

  The gentleman a few people ahead of her seemed to be having trouble with his bracelet. The guards at the door were eyeing him, their hands tight on their weapons, shifting on their feet. The old man was nervous, tapping out a quick beat on the counter stopping only long enough to swipe that the sweat that was beading on his forward.

  The man behind the counter looked bored as he typed into the computer, presumably checking the credentials of the man who stood in front of him. She watched as he glanced at one of his gun toting colleagues. Without a word, the old man was pulled out of line and into a side room, despite his protests.

  Gertie held out her wrist as she approached the bench. The guard scanned it and the computer beeped. She glanced at the clock. Damn, one minute past midnight. She looked at the guard who shrugged, as if to say, ‘What can I do?’

  “Wait,” came a voice from an office at the back. Gertie let out a sigh of relief as Captain McDonagh came hurrying toward her, the harsh lights glinting off his dark red hair. He tapped the attendant on the shoulder and took the guard’s place at the computer. “Cutting it a bit close aren’t we, Miss Penn?” He swiped at the screen of the computer, touching unseen buttons.

  She shrugged. “I was here well before midnight. It’s not my fault that going through your checkpoint takes so long.”

  He grinned. “I hardly think two minutes is ‘well before,’ but I’ll let it slide this time.”

  “Thank you.”

  She reached into her bag and pulled out the package of cookies. “Here, since you are kind enough to not leave me locked in 4th. We had these leftover from dinner.”

  His smiled widened. “You know, bribing a guard isn’t necessarily a smart thing to do.”

  “It's not a bribe,” Gertie pulled herself up. “It's a thank you.”

  He shook his head and reached for her hand. Gertie’s heart flipped. It was such a bold move, one she hadn’t been prepared for. But rather than taking it tenderly and caressing it lovingly, he pulled it close and scanned her bracelet. Of course that’s what he was doing. Gertie kicked herself mentally, willing the heat from her face.

  The computer gave a happy chirp, letting them know that she was free to go. But he didn’t drop her hand. She looked up at him curious. “Is there something else, Captain McDonagh?”

  His gold eyes were sincere, as the caressed her face. “I wish you’d call me, Liam.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “If giving you cookies is bad, don’t you think first names are a horrible idea?”

  He laughed at that, and Gertie felt warmth bloom in her chest. He was still holding her hand, as though hesitant to let her go. She was hesitant to leave.

  Outside the checkpoint they heard raised voices, drawing their attention. One of the guards poked his head into the 4th District, then came back to report. “Just a group of drunk guys. Nothing to be alarmed about.”

  Liam’s eyes narrowed. “If you wait,” he said. “I’ll be off in twenty minutes or so. I could walk you home.”

  The offer was tempting, but she was exhausted. She shook her head. “I’ll be okay.”

  He dropped her hand and ran his fingers through his dark red hair. “I don’t like you walking alone so late at night so often. It's not safe. Especially-”

  “This day of the week,” She finished for him. It was not the first time he’d told her this as she passed through the checkpoint. “Don’t worry. I’ll hurry home and be totally safe, I promise.” She smiled up at him and finished. “Liam.”

  And just like that the cloudy expression dissolved from his face as he grinned. “Okay, next week though, I am not taking no for an answer.”

  “Oh, actually, I won’t be going to 5th next week.” He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Rules are rules, and I haven’t been following them very well.”

  “You’ll be going out with the other government employees?” He sounded eager.

  She held her hands out palms up, “So the Chancellor has demanded and so it shall be done.” T
he noise from outside grew louder. “I better get going.” She gave him a smile and a small wave and headed out the door, skirting around the group of rowdy drunks and the guards that eyed them warily to hurry down the street.

  The sound of footsteps followed her.

  The group had stayed where it was. There was no one in her immediate vicinity. Still she ducked down a side street, intending to connect with the much busier thoroughfare, feeling more comfortable with people around her, then alone on an empty street with ghost steps echoing behind her.

  She passed by a couple wrapped in each other’s arms, oblivious to the world. She felt a longing in her bones as she hurried by them. What would it be like to be one of those two people? To be so focused on another person that there was no room for anything else? She was busy imagining her and Liam in such a situation, when her feet tangled in something and she fell forward toward the street and oncoming traffic.

  She let out a cry as she thrust out her arms to catch herself, but instead felt rough hands grab her. She was pulled back onto the sidewalk, narrowly missing a car as it came speeding by.

  The hands released her almost as quickly as they’d grabbed her. Gertie bent double for a second, trying to slow the too rapid beating of her heart, then turned to thank whoever it was that had caught her. But there was no one there, just the couple she’d passed before, still pressed against the brick wall.

  Gertie rubbed her arm where she could still feel the imprint of fingers. She had definitely not made this up. The footsteps behind her, she might have been able to chalk up to her own imagination. But not this.

  With one last glance around the street, Gertie took off running and she didn’t stop until she was in her apartment.

  5

  Vail

  Vail retreated to the shadows, watching as Gertie spun in a slow circle, rubbing her arm where he’d grabbed her. He’d had to grip her so hard, she’d no doubt have bruises in the morning. He hadn’t realized what he was doing, he’d just seen her start to fall and the oncoming car and moved.

  How had he been so careless? The Office would not be pleased if they found out.

  His orders were simple. Follow her. Don’t interact. Don’t let her know he was there. The truth is that he’d never had such a hard time keeping someone from noticing he was tailing them. But Gertie seemed to have a sixth sense. She knew someone was following her, even if she couldn’t see them. He was sure that she couldn’t even hear him, and yet she’d turned several times.

  He watched as she took off down the street, running in the direction of her apartment. Swearing, he followed, trying to stay far enough behind that she wouldn’t hear his feet on the pavement.

  He was barely winded when she reached the building and flung the door open.

  Vail waited on the street, watching her window for the light to come on in her apartment. Moments later, it did.

  He considered the building for a second before turning away and heading in the direction he’d come from, back to 4th District. He ducked down an alley and shimmied up a drain pipe to the top of a building, and pulled himself to the roof. He traveled along the rooftops until he reached the wall that separated 3rd from 4th.

  If the guardsmen had any idea of how easy it was for people to get from one district to another over the buildings they would probably just petition to have the walls torn down. The walls should have been torn down. That was the whole point of the rebellion.

  Vail jumped over the wall and dropped to the ground. He made his way to a dilapidated building, pushed aside the broken door and ducked inside, letting his invisibility drop.

  One flight of stairs down, he entered what appeared to be a room full of junk. Rotten boards and rubble littered the floor. Broken chairs were stacked in one corner. One portion of the far wall was falling down, broken bricks and mortar lay in a pile under the hole. Vail went to the wall across from the door, where he placed his hand on one of the jutting bricks.

  A light flashed to life, scanning his palm. After a moment, the wall in front of him slid up, revealing a clean, brightly lit room. He stepped in and the door closed behind him. The lift started moving as a series of lights flashed, scanning him.

  “Welcome back,” came a voice. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

  Vail grinned, leaning against the wall as the lights stopped scanning him. “Did you miss me, Dicie?”

  She snorted over the microphone. “Hardly. I was enjoying the peace and quiet of you not being in the office. I thought you were on assignment.”

  The lift stopped moving and the door opened. He blinked at the artificial light as he stepped into a large room with groupings of desks here and there. People moved around the space, making sure that things were running smoothly. Vail sauntered over to a girl with black curly hair and brown skin. She sat facing a wall of monitors, feeds from various camera’s around the city were displayed on the screens. “Any news?” Vail asked.

  Dicie looked up at him with blue eyes. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” She looked back at monitors in front of her. “Your girl’s still in her apartment.” She tapped one screen that showed Gertie on her couch dressed in pajamas, knees drawn up under her chin, arms wrapped around her shins. Vail could tell that the TV was on, but she didn’t appear to be watching it. Instead, she kept glancing over her shoulder as if she expected someone to jump out at her.

  “Anything else?”

  Dicie shook her head. “Just the normal run of the mill Friday debauchery.” She picked up a pen and tapped it against her desk. “Although it was the strangest thing. I was watching Miss Penn this evening, and at one point, it looked like she tripped. I mean, she was going down. Right in front of a car, too.” Her blue eyes flicked to Vail. “And then she just stopped... in midair.” Vail shifted, glaring at her. But she continued on. “You know you aren’t supposed to make contact until we’ve determined if she’s safe or not.”

  “Well, she would have been hit by a speeding car, and then we would never find out if she was safe or not.”

  Dicie sighed and leaned back in her chair, running her hand over her eyes. “Look, I didn’t say anything, but you have to be more careful. If anyone else saw that…” She trailed off.

  He leaned against her desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “I know, believe me, I know. I messed up.”

  Her face softened and she opened her mouth to say something, but she was cut off.

  “Denholm!” A voice roared through the room. “My office, Now!”

  Vail glanced around. “That has to be the most useless ability ever.” He murmured to Dicie, before pushing away from the desk.

  “The ability to be heard anywhere in the world is not useless.” She said primly, before turning back to the screens in front of her, and pulling the keyboard closer to her.

  Vail made his way through the main room, up a short flight of stairs and into the office of Jerome Atkins. “What are you doing here?” Vail threw himself into a chair and faced the man who was, for all intents and purposes, his boss. “Aren’t you supposed to be watching someone?”

  Vail shrugged. “She’s at her apartment. Dicie’s got her on camera.”

  Atkins, looked over his thick rimmed glasses at Vail, his brown eyes cold. “I don’t care if Dicie has her on camera. Your job is to watch Gertrude Penn.”

  “I know that’s my job. What I don’t know is why I’m following her.”

  The door opened. “You’re following her because you have the happy ability to… blend in.” Vail craned his head to view the newcomer to the conversation. Bentley Graves entered the office and closed the door behind him. Vail felt his jaw tighten of its own accord.

  Atkins pointed at him. “Yes, and also no. You are following her because those are your orders, and you will continue to do so until you hear otherwise.”

  Graves leaned against the desk facing Vail. “Since you’re here do you have anything to report?”

  Vail slouched in his chair, hesitating before answerin
g. He’d never liked Graves, hated taking orders from him. Hated the way the handsome blond man seemed to see himself on the same level as Atkins.

  “Denhelm?” Atkins prompted.

  Vail sighed. “Nope, nothing. She is extraordinarily boring. All she does is work and cook. No signs of any abilities. No strong signs of allegiance to the Chancellor or against him.”

  Graves glanced over his shoulder to the grey haired Atkins. Vail could tell they didn’t believe him. “Well, she seemed to know I was following her and during the Chancellor’s speech she didn’t eat up every word that he said. But there are normals who do that too.”

  “Don’t use that word,” Graves bit out. “It implies that we are abnormal.”

  Vail held up his hands in front of him. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” Atkins said. “Just do your job and figure out why they are so interested in her.”

  “Nothing else?” Graves pressed.

  Vail shook his head once. “Nope. She’s good at her job, finishes early most days, but chooses to stay to do extra work. Goes to the gym like a good government employee four days a week and stays for at least an hour each time. Goes home and does nothing. She doesn’t go out on the weekends, except to go to 5th to visit her family. It seems like she’s gotten pretty chummy with one of the guards at the checkpoint between 3rd and 4th. Though they all recognize her and don’t check her bags.”

  Atkins was looking at the screen on his computer, giving the impression that he was only half listening. But Vail knew he was picking up every word said, in this room and most likely in the next. “Hmm, well that is something.”

  Graves nodded. “If we can get her to our side, she might be able to act as a courier for us.”

  Vail couldn’t explain it, but he hated the idea of the Office using Gertie, hated the idea of her taking that risk. “I can act as a courier for you now.”

  “Yes, but the more we have the better.” Vail gritted his teeth at Graves’ condescending tone. He’d been a member of the Office for far longer than Graves, and yet, somehow the slightly older man had risen in the ranks above him.