“Forester!” one of them yelled.
I turned to the door just as he opened it.
Cool hazel eyes met mine. “Follow me.”
I just stood there. Now where am I going?
When I didn’t step forward, he reached forward and pulled me out, but he didn’t cuff me before leading me down the hall. The other women in the cell watched me leave, their hands gripping the cell’s metal bars.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
The guards led me back to the front of the jail. Before I knew it, they were giving me back my belongings and telling me to change. “You’re out.”
“Wha… what?” My eyes widened.
“I said you’re out. The charges have been dropped. You must have some friends in high places.” His annoyed look told me exactly how he felt about that.
I didn’t argue. Instead, I rushed to change and grab my things. My hands shook so badly I dropped my boots.
When I emerged from Rapid City’s jail, the gray clouds were gone. I finally answered Sara’s rapid knocking.
Meghan? Are you okay? What the heck’s going on?
I shrugged, feeling as confused as her. I don’t know, but they let me out. They said something about me having friends in high places.
Oh, Meghan, that’s awesome news!
We spoke for a few more minutes. She promised to pass the news to Davin. I gotta go, Sara. I really need to figure out what to do from here.
Yeah, okay. Keep in touch.
We shut down our connection as a grin stretched across my face. The sun shone down, and the entire world sparkled white. I wrapped the military coat tighter around me. It did little to stop the cold, but at least it was dry and not missing its filling.
I shaded my eyes as I tried to figure out what to do or where to go from here. I didn’t have money or a phone. If worse came to worse, I could walk to Sharon’s house. She kept a key in the back under a green pot. I could let myself in and use her landline to call someone.
Jogging down the steps, I called upon the map of Rapid City that was stored in my eidetic memory just as a shiny black vehicle rounded the corner. It drove right for me, making me step back.
When it reached my side, the window rolled down and a blond head poked out. Cate’s grim expression met mine.
“Get in.”
16 – THE PRESIDENT
She didn’t have to say it twice. I jumped in the back and slammed the door. The driver took off.
“Are you the one who got me out?” I angled my body toward Cate.
“Yes. Who else could get a felony charge dropped?” Cate’s sharp words were unlike anything I’d heard from her before. “Seriously, Meghan, you broke into the reservation? What were you thinking?”
Her harsh words emanated through the cab. The driver that sat in front stayed facing forward. Snow still covered the streets in town. It looked like the local plows had done one pass through, but that was it. However, it didn’t look like the winter storm that hit the reservation had been as bad here. Only six inches of snow sat on front yards and parking lots.
From the streets the driver took, I knew where we were going.
The airport.
“It’s not as simple as that.” I struggled with how to explain. Nobody knew about what Sara could do, not even Cate, even though I knew the Director would never do anything to harm the twin. Still, I’d made a promise to Sara, and I intended to keep it.
“How is it not that simple?” Cate’s eyes sparkled with fury. “Ian said–”
“Ian!” I sat up straighter. “Have you heard from him? Is he all right?”
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes, I’ve heard from him. He was in some barn on some deserted farm up near the reservation when I last spoke to him. As for why he’s there, I’m not sure I want to know. He’ll be returning to Washington tomorrow. I’ve having the second MRI plane pick him up. Enough is enough out here!”
I cringed. “I can explain–”
“Good, because I’d love to hear it.” She crossed her arms, her words bristling in the air.
“I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait for someone higher up to maybe grant me access to the reservation. You know how the government works. It could have been months! And you saw those videos. You saw what was being done to them!” I waved my arm in annoyance. “How has waiting benefited us anyway? We’ve done nothing but wait while we try to convince the president to fire Dr. Roberts. And what’s happened? Nothing!”
“That’s because we didn’t have proof of anything going on. But now we do!” She took another deep breath.
I could tell that she was disappointed in me. But she didn’t know that I needed to connect with Sara again, and the only way to do that was to be physically close to the twin.
“Thank you for getting me out.” My words were quiet as the airport appeared. Even though we were still half a mile away, I could see the runway. The MRI jet waited.
“Don’t thank me yet. Once the president hears about your stunt, you may be locked back up.”
THE RUNWAY WAS still a mess when we pulled up to it, but a large strip down the middle had been plowed.
I guessed Cate had to pull another string to hire a local plow to clear the runway. I could only imagine the new weight she carried in D.C. None of what she’d accomplished this morning could have been easy.
While the pilot readied the plane, Cate let me borrow her cell phone. I still hadn’t talked to my co-workers or Sharon. None of them knew what had happened to me.
After my first text, Amy’s reply was several dozen smiley faces and exclamation marks. I could only guess upon their worry.
My next text to her was to the point.
Where’s Ian?
Her response came readily.
He’s with us. We managed to get through the snow this morning after the plows made a pass through. He spent the night in Cash’s barn. He was cold and hungry when we arrived, but he’s fine.
A billow of relief flowed through me.
:) How did he get away?
He said he stayed inside the reservation most of the night, since he knew they were searching for him at the perimeter. Just before sunrise, he made a run for it and managed to get through the hole you guys cut in the fence.
The dogs didn’t track him?
No, I guess the snow made it too hard. It was falling too fast, and it was too cold. The dogs couldn’t scent him.
See, breaking into the reservation during the blizzard was the best plan ever. ;)
LOL!
I typed in one last message.
If the roads are passable, you might as well return to Sioux Falls. For the time being, there’s nothing we can do. And tell Sharon Davin’s alive and okay. I’ll call her as soon as I can.
Amy’s reply came readily.
She’ll be so relieved. Hopefully, we’ll see you soon?
Hopefully.
A few minutes later, the pilot was ready to go. I deleted my messages with Amy and handed the phone back to Cate. I also tapped into my connection with Sara to give her an update.
Will you also tell Davin? I asked.
Definitely. He’ll be really happy to know you’re out of jail and with Cate. He’s been pacing all morning.
I’m sure he has, but I’m fine. I’m not sure what will happen now, but I’ll be in touch soon.
Once we were in the air, Cate and I both settled in for the flight.
“How’s the new job going?” I asked tentatively as we both sipped coffee. Since Cate had fixed my cup and brought it to me like she usually did, I knew she was getting over her anger with me.
“Good, but it’s exhausting. Trying to compromise with lawmakers while getting actual laws passed isn’t easy.” She leaned against the window. Faint dark circles lined her lower eyelids.
Guilt filled me. My actions had added to her stress. “I’m sorry for breaking into the reservation and causing more problems for you.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s kind of hard to explain, but tell me something. How did you find out about my arrest? Was it from my message?”
Her narrowed gaze told me it hadn’t gone unnoticed that I’d avoided her question. “Yes, I listened to your message, but Ian also called me this morning and told me you’d been detained within the reservation.”
Since she said nothing further about him, I guessed she had no idea that Ian had also broken into the rez. If Ian hadn’t enlightened her with that detail, I wouldn’t either.
“I’ll have to thank him for getting hold of you. Speaking of phones, they took my phone when they arrested me in the reservation.”
“They still have your phone?” She arched an eyebrow.
“Yeah, they took it from me when they searched me. I have no idea where it is.” I was mildly upset about that. Phones could be replaced, but they were incredibly expensive. Most phones used now were manufactured before the First Wave. In other words, supply was limited.
Phones were yet another materialistic item the government had confiscated after Makanza struck. Electronics, clothing, shoes, machinery, furniture, the list went on, were all collected and carefully stored in giant warehouses throughout the country during the First Wave. Since newly manufactured items were rare, we relied on the surplus of goods created before the First Wave.
Cate withdrew her phone from her purse. She tapped in a few strokes in a text. “You’ll get a new phone.”
“Thank you.” Emotion rang in my tone. “And I mean that, Cate. If it wasn’t for you, I’m not sure where I’d be.”
“Yes, you do. You’d still be in Rapid City, sitting in that jail cell, while awaiting your trial.”
My heart rate increased as her words sank in. I was incredibly lucky.
“Now, tell me more about the videos. Where did you get them?” Cate set her empty coffee cup down just as the plane jostled in turbulence. “I watched every single one of them. They’re incredibly disturbing.”
I could only imagine, since I’d only watched a few. “I’m not sure I should say. Sharon’s worried about protecting the person who took them.”
A wounded expression formed in Cate’s eyes. “I would think after all this time you’d know that you can trust me.”
I squirmed under her gaze. She was right. I did trust her. “Just promise me no harm will come to him.”
“I promise, Meghan. Nothing will happen to him.”
I leaned back in my seat. “He’s a local farm kid who lives a few miles from the reservation’s border…”
I launched into all of the details, including what I’d seen in the reservation during the past twenty-four hours. I didn’t share that most of my information came from Sara – I let Cate assume I’d learned it through observation or speaking with Kazzies I’d found.
Regardless, her expression grew more and more shrewd the closer we flew to D.C.
“This has to stop.” Her tone cut through the air like a knife. “And I intend to see that it does.”
A fierce light grew in her eyes. My heart swelled. It was a look I recognized in myself.
Suddenly, the future didn’t seem nearly so impossible.
AFTER WE LANDED, a private car escorted us to the White House. It was hard to believe it was my third trip to the president’s home. Most people in our country had never seen the White House, let alone been inside of it.
I touched base with Sara in a hurried telepathic conversation before the car pulled up to the door. I’m at the White House.
The White House? Again? her voice screeched.
Yeah, wish me luck it will go better this time. We have the videos now to prove that Roberts isn’t fit to run the rez. Hopefully, Davin will be let out of isolation soon.
Good luck. Her words were succinct but accurate.
We’d definitely need luck.
The president waited for us in the Oval Office. I took that as a good sign. If she was waiting for us, that meant she wanted to hear what we had to say.
“Have a seat.” President Morgan waved at the couch across from her.
Cate and I both sat. I was incredibly self-conscience since I was wearing the same clothes from my break-in to the reservation. Not to mention, I hadn’t showered in a few days. I’d left the military cargo jacket at the door with a White House staff member, but my dirty jeans and shirt, along with the heavy winter boots were not what one normally wore to meet the president.
It didn’t help that both Cate and the president wore business suits, although, since none of them gave me a second glance, I knew they didn’t care about my attire. And considering the president’s next words, I knew why.
“Dr. Forester, I hear that you broke into Reservation 1 and spent the morning in jail.” She angled her body toward Cate. “And I hear that you, Dr. Hutchinson, are the reason she’s out.”
Cate’s eyes widened. “Yes, that’s true.” Cate tucked her hair behind her ear. “Meghan is also the reason we have the videos. She felt it was imperative to gain access to the reservation immediately. Doing so gathered valuable insider information that we would otherwise not be privy to.”
The president’s gaze hardened. “I’m quite confident that I could gain any information I wished for. However, considering the magnitude of what these videos portray, I can understand why you felt the need to investigate, which is the only reason you won’t be returning to jail once this meeting is over.”
Her words were like wind filling my sails. “Thank…” I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”
The president rearranged her position, her navy pants brushing the sofa’s upholstery. “Upon seeing the videos, I’ve decided to terminate Dr. Roberts. He’ll be removed within twenty-four hours.”
A grin spread across my face. “And the Kazzies? What about them?”
Her shrewd gaze met mine. “What about them?”
“Will you free them too?”
She gave me a disbelieving glance. “No, of course not.”
The hope that had been building in me since her statement about firing Dr. Roberts crashed down like a tidal wave. “Why?”
“What do you mean why? We still have protestors actively fighting their release. However, having barbaric practices happening on the reservation will only add more fuel to the fire in an already sharply divided nation. I want those videos kept private, and I want Dr. Roberts’ removal kept quiet. Do you understand?”
I forced myself to keep my mouth shut. The president had pardoned me from a potential prison sentence. It was best I kept that in mind.
“What more do you know about the protests?” Cate placed her hand over mine. I could tell that she knew I wanted to explode.
“It’s still the same groups organized by Senator Douglas. They’re intent on causing an uproar.”
An image of Dr. Roberts in his government sedan sliding past the group of protestors during the summer flashed through my mind. I had no doubt he was also a leading contributor to the protestors. Yet, one thing had been lacking in all of the time I’d known him: motivation.
“Why does he hate them so much?” I muttered the words under my breath.
“Dr. Forester? Is there something you’d like to share?” The president’s words were sharp. “Why does who hate who so much?”
I shook my head, looking back up. “Dr. Roberts. Why does he hate the Kazzies so much? He hates them with a passion.”
The president leaned back on the couch and clasped her hands. “Probably because he lost his wife and daughter to a Kazzie.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
She nodded. “It happened during the First Wave. A Kazzie was picked up in one of the cities Dr. Roberts was stationed at. Dr. Roberts was still in the Marines then and part of the cleanup force. It was before the MRRA and MRI had been formed.” Her look turned penchant. “The Kazzie they detained blamed Dr. Roberts
for the state he was in. And somehow, that Kazzie broke out and found out where Dr. Roberts lived. He broke into his home and infected Dr. Roberts’ wife and daughter. Both died.”
My mouth dropped. “But… what… how?”
Cate leaned forward. “If you knew this information, why did you let him run Reservation 1?”
“Because I didn’t know this information until recently. You may not believe me, but I haven’t forgotten my promise to keep an eye on things in South Dakota. When rumblings reached here about family members being denied access, I instructed a few staff to look into it. They brought this information back to me last week.”
“How could no one have known that? Doesn’t it show up on his background check?” My voice rose.
The president eyed me coolly. “The background check merely states his wife and daughter died in the First Wave. It doesn’t go into details. And the only reason we learned of this was a chance encounter with one of Dr. Roberts’ former colleagues. Otherwise, my staff would have never been informed.”
My mind reeled. “So that’s why he hates them. If it wasn’t for a Kazzie, his wife and daughter would still be alive.”
The president nodded. “Yes. That’s probably safe to assume.”
It all made sense now. His venom toward them. Him wanting to punish them. His particular interest in bringing Davin under control. If a Kazzie defied Dr. Roberts during an outbreak cleanup, it made sense that any Kazzie he wasn’t able to control would remind him of the Kazzie who killed his family.
“He’s a really sick man,” I whispered.
The president nodded grimly. “I think you’re right.”
“So Dr. Roberts will be removed, but the Kazzies will stay on Reservation 1.” Cate summed up our meeting.
Section 12: Book #3 in The Makanza Series Page 17