by Tracy Lawson
“It’s a nod to Greek mythology, of course. Cerberus was the three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades.”
“Right. Like Fluffy.”
“Who?”
“The three-headed dog in Harry Potter. I just watched it for the first time last night.”
“Yeah. Banned.”
“They banned a lot of good stuff.”
“Yeah. Anyway, Cerberus was a guardian. I thought it was appropriate because, like the real mythological creature, Cerberean Link has more than one side: it monitors your health and keeps track of all your records. It can pinpoint your location anytime, anywhere. But you see the downside, right?”
“It leaves you with no privacy.”
“Bingo.”
“Why did you invent the Link when you knew what Madalyn would use it for?”
“Hey, be fair. None of this stuff is new. I just integrated it all into one app and installed it on an unremovable band that links you to every detail about your life. Good ideas are corrupted in the hands of bad people. Lucky for us, it’s not just good people who’ll be trapped in this web.”
“So how are we going to get Careen out of there?”
“Looks like she didn’t want to escape. Maybe life’s too good over at Death Star.”
“Bull. Of course she wants to escape. We just need a better plan.”
Atari mimicked his voice. “We just need a better plan. Why don’t you come up with something?”
“Hey, don’t forget I got my dad out. I can do it again if you’re out of ideas.”
“Your dad’s right, you know. You lack perspective. You underestimate your opponents. You’re too straightforward, too simple, and too honest. That’s a problem.
“You think you know what’s going on in the world because of what you see on TV. But you’re wrong. Stratford and Madalyn gained control by making people believe things that weren’t true. I’m a much worthier opponent for Madalyn. I’m going to turn the tables on her. Let’s see how well she handles it when I mess with her reality for a change.
“There’s no need to tax yourself coming up with a better plan.” He nudged Tommy with his elbow. “My better plan is evolving. You’ll get a kick out of this.”
A few keystrokes later, Tommy’s image sauntered into view on the main television screen.
“Jeez, Atari! You can’t just, um, cartoon me like that!”
“It’s hardly a cartoon. This is very sophisticated technology. He looks just like you.”
That’s debatable. Tommy scrutinized the image.
“It was a no-brainer.” His voice came over the speakers.
Atari grinned. “Look how well the audio is synched.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah! I’ve been recording voice samples ever since you got here, and I can make him say anything I want. His vocabulary is a little larger than yours, but I don’t think anyone will notice.”
“You’re an ass.”
“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words of one syllable will never hurt me, bro. I needed to practice on someone I could observe. Oh—and hey, I’ve got a surprise for you. Just until we get you the real thing, of course. Thought you might like this.”
He pressed a key and Careen walked into frame and struck a seductive, come-hither pose that might have been all kinds of awesome if it was real. It was a jolt, seeing her like that, and Tommy’s pulse quickened. He glanced over at Atari, who seemed to be enjoying watching her a little too much.
“Not cool.” Still, his eyes drifted back to the screen. Her clothing was skin-tight, her features enhanced with heavy makeup. After a moment, memories of the real Careen took the forefront of his mind, and he thought how embarrassed she’d be if she knew Atari was using her this way. “Delete it.”
“No chance! It’s a masterpiece.” Atari wiggled his eyebrows as he pecked at the keys, and Careen tossed back her bangs and started toward Tommy with a swing in her walk he was sure he’d never seen before. The perspective shifted to his on-screen double’s point of view as she drew near, batting her heavily made-up eyes. Her lips parted… .
Tommy grabbed him by the shirt, but before he could haul him out of the chair, Atari hit pause.
“All right. Jeez. Chill out, bro. This version was just for us—I mean you. Mostly. But whatever.” He turned off the monitor.
“Is this just a sick game for you?”
“No, it was part of the plan. I figured I could use enhanced footage to create a diversion.”
“To help Careen escape?”
“Yeah, but that plan requires her active participation, and dude, I’m not sure she’d fight to save herself if she had the chance. I mean, after the way she acted when I Linked her, combined with what we just saw at the press conference, I’m thinking Stockholm syndrome. Know what that is?”
“Yeah, I read about it. It’s when a hostage identifies with their captor. But Careen’s too smart to fall for that.”
“Smart’s got nothing to do with it.” He paused. “What pisses her off?”
“Madalyn.”
“Not good enough. We need something bigger—something or someone that will make her mad enough to snap out of it.”
Tommy nodded. “I know someone.”
Chapter 51
3:00 PM
Quadrant OP-441
Tom and Lara both took care to avoid being recognized at the memorial service in OP-441. The only rust-colored curls in the crowd belonged to Jaycee. Lara had tucked hers under a knit cap. Eduardo had parked about half a mile from the hub, and as they drew near, Jaycee stayed close to Lara, staring at the hundreds of people that crowded the entrance gate. They stood with Eduardo and watched President Wright take his place at the podium, which was placed over the exact spot where the hub director had been gunned down by the QM during the food riots. Garrick and Kevin stood to the side. Tom locked eyes with each of them.
The president cleared his throat. “I wish I could say it is a pleasure to be here in OP-441 on this fine, sunny day. But this is a solemn occasion. It is a day of mourning and remembrance. A day on which I would like to promise you that nothing like the food riots will ever happen in this country again.” He looked out over the crowd. “The OCSD’s efforts to safeguard our citizens against the threat of terrorism have saved countless lives. But the events that transpired here on November twenty-third serve to remind us that even our best efforts to ensure safety will not always be successful.”
Lara pressed close to his side and whispered, “It’s really starting to work, isn’t it?”
He looked down at her and nodded. Just then Eduardo began to thread his way through the crowd, and Tom shepherded Lara and Jaycee after him.
The president continued. “Change has been born of this tragedy. Though Essential Services has now resumed weekly deliveries, anyone who chooses may opt out of the program by filling out a form on a newly established website. On New Year’s Day, a percentage of the distribution hubs will revert to being privately held grocery stores, where people will be able to shop for their own food. Other hubs will remain part of the Essential Services department, and food delivery shall remain available for those who wish to continue in the program.”
A reporter shouted, “What percentage of the hubs will go private?”
“That depends on how many people opt out of Essential Services. Regardless, it is prudent to nurture an open food market so that the circumstances that led to the OP-441 tragedy will not be repeated.”
After a short prayer and a moment of silence in honor of the fallen, the president’s Secret Service detail escorted him through the crowd. Kevin opened a side door to admit Tom and the others into the hub. They watched Hoyt Garrick lead the president’s detail across the room and and usher the president into an office, where the Secret Service took up positions outside the door. Garrick motioned for Tom to follow him, and together they went inside, where Christopher Wright was waiting
Garrick shut the door. “Mr. President, allow me to present Tom B
ailey.”
They shook hands. “It’s a pleasure, Sir.”
“I have to admit, Mr. Bailey, my curiosity about you has gotten the better of me.”
Tom continued the introductions. “This is my wife, Lara, and Jaycee Carraway. This young lady’s uncle was one of the marshals who worked with the hub director to distribute food in an orderly fashion. He was killed in the line of duty the following week. Oh, and this is—”
Eduardo extended his hand. “Eduardo Rodriguez, sir. You probably don’t remember, but we met a few weeks ago. At the White House.”
The president nodded. “I remember.”
“We’re here as representatives of the Resistance. The Restrictions are not effective. The system is starting to crumble. We want to suggest an alternative plan that can be implemented to head off a possible revolution.”
Chapter 52
1:05 PM
Thursday, December 14, 2034
Quadrant DC-005
Tommy stuck his head into Wardrobe. “You ready? The car service delivered her, and the fake receptionist you hired showed her into the fake conference room. Put on the security guard uniform.”
Atari grinned. “I changed the plan. I’ve promoted myself to Special Agent for this assignment. I’m wearing a suit.”
“We had a perfectly good plan. Why are you changing it?”
“Because this is a better one. Come on, be a sport. I know you were disappointed there was no part for you in the old plan.” He punched Tommy’s arm. “I know you want in on this.”
Tommy sighed. “All right.”
Atari grinned and extended his hand. “Great! Shake.” Tommy clasped his hand, and before he knew what had happened, Atari locked a handcuff around his wrist with a click. Tommy tried to pull away, but Atari fastened the other cuff to his own wrist. “Let’s go!”
He dragged Tommy into the hall and down two flights of stairs. He paused outside the conference room door and grinned. “It’s showtime! Just be yourself.”
He opened the door, shoved Tommy in ahead of him, and addressed the woman seated at the conference table. “I apologize for your wait, ma’am. As you can see, we have a very, very recent arrest we’re dealing with today.” He pulled out a chair and nudged Tommy into the seat directly across from Careen’s mother.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and fixed her gaze on Tommy. “I didn’t know my free trip to the capital was going to include sightseeing.” She purred as she pressed her index finger to the center of the space between them on the glossy table, and slowly drew an undulating line back toward herself. “Nice to see you, Tommy Bailey.”
He squirmed in his chair.
“I’ve always had a thing for guys like you. I must admit I’m surprised to learn my daughter does, too.” She turned her gaze on Atari. “And it’s quite all right. I didn’t mind waiting.” She twirled a lock of long hair around her finger. “That limo was very classy. Like something out of a movie.”
Atari laughed. “Nothing’s too good for you, Mrs. Catecher.”
“Call me Jezz. I haven’t been Mrs. Anyone for a long, long, time. When do I get—”
“She’s not here at the moment.”
She squared her shoulders, and something like annoyance flickered across her face. “The driver mentioned something about …” She leaned closer and whispered, “… finally getting the reward money?”
Tommy’s annoyance turned to fury at her apparent lack of concern for Careen. He shot Atari a look, and Atari gestured toward Jezz with his free hand and said, “By all means. Go right ahead.”
“Don’t you care that your daughter’s life is in danger? This isn’t a game. She’s being abused and tortured at the OCSD. It’s not going to end until she’s no longer of any use to them. Then they’ll kill her. That’s why we’re here at … um … the offsite secret headquarters where we won’t be overheard. He’s Internal Affairs. Investigating the abuse of a prisoner.”
Her expression hardened. “Offsite secret headquarters? Internal affairs? Yeah. You honestly think I’m that much of an idiot? My kid gets her brains from me.”
Atari cleared his throat, and her gaze shifted to meet his. “Fine. Since we’re not standing on pretense any longer, Jezz, here’s the deal. We’re from the Resistance, and we’re going to extract Careen from OCSD custody. Do you love her enough to help us hide the body?”
3:35 PM
Quadrant DC-001
Kevin’s trip to OP-441 had been productive, and a welcome respite from his constant contact with Madalyn. He’d had a quick conference with Garrick, Eduardo, and the Baileys after their meeting with the president, and he was ready to put the next phase of the Resistance’s plan into action.
He tapped on Madalyn’s office door, and when she waved him in, he put on a concerned face. “According to the PR department, Careen’s television appearances are destroying the OCSD’s approval rating. The CXD protesters are actively opposing the Link program, and their message is spreading nationwide like wildfire, even without being able to upload on PeopleNet and PeopleCam. Poll numbers say only forty percent of adults surveyed think the Link is a good idea, and that number is falling. Fast.”
He waited without expecting Madalyn to offer any solution. Then he continued.
“The Inaugural Link Ceremony ended in chaos, and that didn’t help. You know, I think everyone likes a happy ending, right? A story with, like, redemption and people making up and hugging and stuff. Maybe Careen needs forgiveness and redemption before people will like her again.”
Madalyn looked confused. “How?”
“The PR department believes Careen is dragging you down because she’s lost favor with the public. She’s perceived as a bad person. Some people don’t like her because of her alleged role in the bombing, and other people don’t like her because they think she’s a sellout for working for the OCSD. So maybe an on-camera reunion with someone she’s close to—unscripted, like a surprise—would make her seem more likeable, more real. We could pre-empt regular programming and go with a prime-time special, say eight p.m. on Friday?”
Madalyn nodded. “I like it. Kevin, you’re doing a great job. You’re definitely starting to think like me.”
It was a good thing he hadn’t dropped Mitch’s transmitter down the drain. This plan was going to require lots of help—and some split-second timing.
Chapter 53
6:45 PM
Friday, December 15, 2034
Quadrant DC-001
Madalyn followed Fawn into Careen’s room and immediately took charge.
“No, no, no, Careen. That outfit won’t do at all. It’s too casual. You have a visitor coming.”
“Visitor?”
“You’ve been a good girl, Careen. The visit is a reward.”
Her heart leapt, but the happy feeling evaporated right away. The only people she wanted to see were the ones who now despised her.
After Fawn did her hair and makeup, she dressed without protest in the blouse, pencil skirt, and necklace Madalyn selected from the closet and slipped on heels so high that she teetered when she followed Madalyn down the hall. She stopped outside the familiar soundstage, but Madalyn continued around the corner.
Madalyn opened a door, and Careen stepped into a sitting room with a curved, crushed-velvet sofa in the center, flanked by royal blue wing chairs and mahogany side tables. She assumed the floor-to-ceiling drapes covered another blank stretch of wall, as she could see no light peeking in around the edges of the panels.
“Have a seat.” Madalyn left, closing the door behind her, and Careen perched on the sofa and wrapped her arms around her middle, still a little dazed by the circumstances. She didn’t look up when she heard the door open. She closed her eyes and prayed to see—
“There’s my baby girl!”
Mom?
Jessica Catecher hurried across the room and pulled Careen off the sofa, sweeping her into a completely one-sided hug. Careen kept her arms limp at her sides, her gaze fixed over
her mother’s shoulder.
“Why are you here?” The words were barely audible, meant only for her mother, not for whoever else was listening in.
Her mother released her with an affected, tinkling giggle, but her smile faded for a moment as she ran her fingers over the scar on Careen’s cheek. She toyed with her bangs and then fingered the fabric of her blouse. “Almost perfect. Very classy.”
“Don’t.”
Her mother ignored Careen’s whispered plea and patted her shoulder. She tugged here and there at Careen’s blouse until it fit more snugly across her breasts. She took a step back, surveyed her daughter’s appearance again, and then unbuttoned one more button. “When in doubt, it’s best to look sexy, don’t you think, baby?”
“No. Why are you here?”
“Careen, everyone has been so kind to you under the circumstances.” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “They don’t usually treat criminals this well, you know. You’re a very lucky girl, to get to live in fancy rooms with pretty, new clothes. Why are you being so cold? Aren’t you glad to see me?”
“Why would you think I’d ever want to see you again after what you did? You sold me out to the quadrant marshals!”
“I’m your mother, that’s why.” Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she batted her eyelashes until one slid down her cheek. “You’re the only thing I ever did that turned out halfway decent. So be sweet and show me some respect.” Then she giggled like a teenager, any hint of tears gone. “Besides, I couldn’t pass up another chance to be on PeopleCam!”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it makes sense for us to be on television together this time, don’t you think? The new security program is all about parents and children. You know, family. Like us.” She tossed back her hair, took Careen by the arm, settled her on the plush sofa, and sat beside her. “Now isn’t this nice? Everyone will see us in this gorgeous room.”
The royal blue drapes opened to reveal a camera crew set up on the other side of a floor-to-ceiling observation window. The stage lights powered up.