by JT Lawrence
The word ‘RoboPup’ and the realistic nature of the bot makes Kate shudder. It makes her feel uncomfortable, but she’ll live with it, if it makes Mally less homesick; if it offers him some happiness. God knows he deserves it, after what they’ve all been through. She looks up at the ceiling, which is crowded with white helium soft-pop balloons: A gift from Solonne.
The puppy barks and chases her tail, and they all laugh. Keke’s Patch rings, so she silently excuses herself and leaves the room to answer the call. When she’s still not back after ten minutes, Kate goes to check on her.
Keke’s not in the hospital corridor, nor at the coldtea vending machine. The unisex restroom icon catches Kate’s eye, so she makes her way over and pushes open the door. On her way in, she catches sight of her reflection in one of the mirrors, sees that her eye make-up is smudged from her sobbing, so she takes a moment to rub the mascara tint off her cheeks.
“I’m telling you again,” she hears Keke whispering from behind one of the doors. “I’m telling you again to leave me alone.”
Kate thinks she must be talking on the phone, so she’s shocked when she hears someone else talk. A bright current runs through her veins, making her fingers tremble.
“Keke, please, just hear me out,” says a male voice.
“No!” says Keke. “I’m not going to do it. Okay? I’m not.”
“I’m not going to hurt her,” says the man’s voice. “All I need is – ”
“Is that what you told the friends of your other victims?”
“Victims? What are you talking about?”
“The cops were here. They told me everything.”
The man laughs. “You’re going to believe the police? Really?”
“You killed Helena Nash.”
“Helena Nash killed herself.”
“You helped her. And those others. I’m leaving.”
There is a scuffle.
“Let me go.”
“Keke. Listen to me, please – ”
“I’ll pay you back, okay? I’ll find a way. Then we’ll be square.”
“You don’t have to pay me back. This isn’t about quid pro quo. It’s about something far bigger than that. All I need you to do is – ”
“No, I won’t do it. She’s been through enough. Now, I’d appreciate it if you let my arm go.”
Kate frowns. Let her arm go? She tiptoes along the room and when she sees two pairs of feet under a shower door she slides it open. Keke and the man turn to look at her at the same time.
“Let go of her arm,” says Kate. The man does so.
“Kate,” he says. He’s good looking, and dressed in a sharp suit. Blue silk tie (Teal Trespasser). “I have something I have to tell you.”
“Then tell me.” Kate can’t remember ever meeting the man but something about him is familiar. As if she had seen him before, on the homescreen, or in a dream.
“Not here,” says Zack. “Not like this.”
What’s Next?
Book 3 in the When Tomorrow Calls Series
In tomorrow's world where the edges blur between addictive virtual reality and real life, would you hurt your daughter if it was the only way to set her free?
Order ‘What Have We Done’ here.
Also by JT Lawrence
FICTION
WHEN TOMORROW CALLS
• SERIES •
1. Why You Were Taken (2015)
2. How We Found You (May 2017)
3. What Have We Done (October 2017)
The Stepford Widow: A Short Story (Oct 2017)
The Memory of Water (2011)
Sticky Fingers (2016)
Grey Magic (2016)
NON-FICTION
The Underachieving Ovary (2016)
Grab ‘The Stepford Florist’ for FREE
Jasmine is arrested for performing a bootleg vampire facelift in her modded-out steampunk caravan.
She’s thrilled, because it worked out exactly as she planned.
Grab this short story set in the futuristic
When Tomorrow Calls world now.
About the Author
JT Lawrence is an Amazon bestselling author,
playwright & bookdealer. She lives in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, in a house with a red front door.
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Warning: You may be sent pictures of guinea pigs wearing glasses (and the occasional freebie).
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my committed and talented team of beta readers: Jess David Lipworth; Mack Lundy; Roulon du Toit; Kim Smith; Janice Leibowitz; Brenda Helfrich; Robyn Ambler, and Michael Lawrence.
Nerine Dorman, thank you for your mad editing skillz, and Keith and Gill Thiele, and Michelle Wallace, for your proofreading.
To Nolakhe Gozongo for sacrificing time with your family so you can help me with my work and look after my kids while I write. It’s no small thing. Thank you.
Deep gratitude, as ever, to my loyal readers. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. A special thanks to my supporter on Patreon: Elize van Heerden.
I’m so fortunate to have you all on my team.
Copyright © 2017 by JT Lawrence
All rights reserved.
How We Found You is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
1st Edition
JT Lawrence has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic without written permission from the author.
Published in South Africa by Fire Finch Press, an imprint of Pulp Books.
www.jt-lawrence.com
Cover images by Shutterstock and Freepik.com
ISBN: 978-0-620-74650-2
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