by Victoria Sue
“But to answer your question, the two who are moving up are Jonathan Deen and Marcus Adams. Jonathan is actually only eleven but is working at grade ten. Transformed nearly three years ago and can hear over great distances. He has permission to wear noise-canceling headphones all the time. Apparently when he first transformed at eight years old, he had to be constantly sedated because all the noises he could hear were causing him a great deal of pain. His mom was going out of her mind until his older sister suddenly had the idea of the headphones.”
“Are you telling me the doctors didn’t think of it?” Sam was stunned.
“Jonathan moved into the district last year from a very small town in Minnesota. The doctors had never seen an enhanced, and as Jonathan couldn’t explain what was happening to him without getting hysterical, he was nearly transferred to a psychiatric hospital.” Finn looked at Sam. “That’s a lot more common than people think.”
Sam nodded, his earlier shame increasing. He’d watched the TV. He knew what a lot of enhanced had been put through.
“It causes immediate problems with communication, obviously, as he can’t be selective about what sounds he shuts out, and we’re getting a new company in Atlanta that’s helping to design some better headphones for him.”
“Marcus?” Sam prodded.
“She actually prefers Marie, which is a whole different battle she is having with the school.”
“Transgender?”
Finn nodded. “She uses a gender-neutral bathroom at the moment, and the school has flatly refused to allow her to get changed in the girl’s locker room, so she’s not taking part in sports.”
“And ability?”
“Refuses to say. Insists she doesn’t have one, but I’m not so sure. I think her identity is enough of a struggle for her at the moment.”
“And Kyle?”
Finn huffed out a breath. “The only thing we know so far, and is a direct result of the medical connections Kyle’s dad has, is that he has an abnormal amount of the gene DEC2, which affects the circadian rhythm.”
Sam’s eyebrows rose, and he just waited. Finn grinned. “He doesn’t sleep.”
“What, not at all?”
Finn shook his head. “Not quite, but when he does sleep, he never goes into REM, and his sleep cycles only last about forty minutes or so.”
“But isn’t that dangerous?”
Finn nodded. “For anyone else, definitely. Lack of sleep has been a torture method since, like, forever. In some cases, going longer than twenty-four hours can result in hallucinations and eventually is fatal because the body’s immune system stops working.”
“But not Kyle?”
“No.” Finn pocketed his keys and wallet. “There have been extensive tests done on him, and he is very healthy.”
Vance stood, gave the dog—Olly—another pat, and Sam followed him out of the apartment. Olly followed them out before Finn locked the door, and then the dog immediately headed down the corridor to the next apartment. He barked once, and the door opened. Sam heard a laugh, and the door closed behind the dog.
They headed for the stairs. “Of course, they are struggling to find any benefit for the ability at the moment, but a colleague of Kyle’s dad seems excited because the gene and a mutation of it is linked to the suppression of many forms of cancer.” Finn smiled. “I mean, finding a cure for cancer would be an amazing ability, right?”
Sam nodded. “Incredible.”
“My mom says it’s one more reason to be thankful this happened to me.” Vance gestured at his face.
“Connie is a smart lady,” Finn decreed.
THEY PARKED in a marked visitor’s space. Finn had told them all excitedly about the meeting he’d had last week with the principals of three other high schools in the district and the talk about actually employing an enhanced liaison officer to work with some of the other interested parties and deal with the influx of new families with an enhanced child. Connie had apparently set up a support group for parents and other guardians, and they were going to invite representatives from the TPD and the schools to join a group. “I’m hoping Kyle’s dad will come along as well.”
“What sort of liaison officer?” Vance asked.
“Someone who can bring it all together, I suppose.”
“No,” Vance asked. “I mean, when you say enhanced, do you mean the person who has the job is actually an enhanced?”
Finn grinned and elbowed Vance. “Why, you after a new job?”
Vance shook his head and stared pointedly at Finn. “No, but I think I’m looking at the perfect candidate.”
Finn’s eyes widened. “I have a job,” he said unconvincingly. “And I’m not enhanced.”
Vance shook his head. “At this point I’m tempted to make some sort of Superman joke, but I think this is way too important. You’re already doing this sort of thing at least twice a week, Finn. You do more good for the enhanced than any of us, and I think running after bad guys is a serious waste of your talents.”
Finn opened his mouth to say something, but at the same time, the school door opened and a woman stepped out, dragging a young girl by the elbow.
“I have never been so embarrassed in my entire life, and this ridiculous charade stops right now.” The girl tried to yank her arm away, but the woman hissed again. “Taking something—anything—without permission is theft.”
“I was only borrowing it,” the girl mumbled and then looked up, and everyone came to a complete stop, including the young girl, who had a scar on her left cheek. The woman—Sam assumed her mother—gaped like a fish at Vance until Finn recovered first and stepped up to them. “Mrs. Adams? It’s so good to meet you. I’m Agent Finn Mayer of the FBI.” He turned without waiting for a reply and stuck out his hand. “And I’m thinking you must be Marie? Really nice to meet you.”
“Don’t call him that,” snapped the woman. “It’s bad enough that his idiotic teacher is encouraging him, but—”
“Mr. Geddes is the most intelligent man I’ve ever met,” Marie stated, “and as the word idiot was used to describe someone with an IQ of less than twenty-five, I think you’re inaccurate as well as insulting.” The girl, complete with a cheeky grin, purple hair, and a nose piercing, smiled at Finn and shook his hand. Mrs. Adams tried to grab for her daughter once more, but then Vance stepped up, and she squeaked and took an instinctive step back.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we actually need your daughter to remain in school today.”
“A matter of national security,” Sam added and flashed a very official-looking ID.
“Oh,” the flustered woman said and glanced at Marie. “Here.” She thrust a bag at Marie and threatened, “I want you to be wearing those if you expect to get any dinner tonight.” She fumed and without another word, stormed off toward the parking lot.
“I’m sorry,” Marie said quietly and picked at her black skirt. “This is actually hers. She never wears it since she put on a bit of weight over the holidays, but it’s the school picture day today, and this is acceptable uniform, so….” She shrugged.
“I’m sorry you’re going through that.” Sam stepped forward and pulled out the card Talon had issued him. “I have a trans friend in my apartment building. She’s cool, and I’m sure she’d love to chat whenever you need to.” He didn’t add that Chris was a registered counselor who usually specialized in eating disorders and was used to teens in particular. He gave the thin girl a quick once-over when she took the card, and hoped the threat of going without dinner wasn’t an actual occurrence.
“We need to go find Mr. Harvey,” Finn said, “and sign in.”
Marie immediately frowned.
“Not a fan?” Vance asked.
Sam glanced at him. He didn’t need to be a voice expert to hear the nerves in Vance’s tone.
“Not exactly,” she said but didn’t elaborate.
“I think we’re meeting you first anyway,” Finn said. “The three enhanced students and their parents.”
&
nbsp; She shrugged. “Well, you just met mine.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t still be there,” Sam said. She laughed again in a disbelieving way, but Sam merely tilted his head questioningly. “Or even better, you can stay with us.”
She smiled then. A genuine one, he thought. “I’ll be there. I got permission to miss class. I’ll go get Jonathan.” She pointed to the desk and a lady sitting behind it, who Sam assumed was the receptionist. The double take as the woman looked up was funny, but Finn put his game face on and went up to her to make introductions. Sam watched as Marie walked down the corridor and disappeared, presumably to the middle school, which was linked by a corridor on the huge sprawling campus.
He turned as the lady seemed to grow more flustered despite Finn being about as unthreatening as he could be, and then she shot an alarmed look at Vance, and Sam understood. Vance was scaring her simply because he was there. In another minute, two security guards appeared, and Sam wanted to roll his eyes. Then a door opened.
“Gentlemen,” quite a loud voice boomed out, and Sam stared in surprise as Vance took a hurried step backward toward Sam. Surely he didn’t think this teacher was a threat to Sam?
Then Sam’s eyes lowered, and he saw Vance’s fists curl tight, then uncurl as the man stepped nearer to them. The second Harvey saw Vance, he stopped in shock.
And Sam understood. Vance wasn’t trying to shield Sam this time. His automatic reaction had been to seek comfort, not to dish it out, and Vance came to him. Sam let that knowledge sink in for a brief second.
“Connelly,” the man clipped out. Sam didn’t give Vance the chance to respond before he stepped around him.
“Mr. Harvey?” Sam held out his hand. “Special Agent Sam Piper from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Agent Finn Mayer, and I didn’t realize you knew Special Agent Vance Connelly. How fortunate.” Sam said it—of course—like it was anything but. Harvey seemed to be at a sudden loss, but Finn caught on immediately and shook hands, repeating his title again, just in case the arrogant bastard thought he could talk to Vance like he was still thirteen or something.
“This way, gentlemen,” Harvey repeated, nodding curtly at Vance and not offering so much as a well-mannered handshake. Sam glanced at Finn, and Finn dipped his chin once at Sam. He’d noticed.
Sam followed Finn into the room and watched Harvey walk back to his chair behind a very imposing desk. There were three chairs arranged in front of it, and he purposely drew Vance down so Vance was between him and Finn. Sam almost laughed, because the thought of either of them providing protection of any sort for Vance would have been funny if Harvey wasn’t a dick and Vance wasn’t upset.
Finn cleared his throat. “Mr. Harvey, I understand you have asked for advice concerning three new student admissions you will be getting next semester?”
Harvey looked at Finn, seemed to gloss over Vance, and then returned his gaze to Finn. “Agent Mayer, yes, err, I am wanting some advice, certainly.”
Sam frowned. What on earth was the matter with the guy?
“Actually,” he continued, “I don’t think that Johnson Bridge can adequately accommodate these students, and I was hoping you would support my wish that another high school in the district would be more equipped to deal with them—their particular needs, that is,” he rushed out.
There was a beat of silence while Sam—and he didn’t doubt Finn and Vance as well—just processed that Harvey had asked for their help not to make sure the students were happy and settled, but so Harvey could get out of their admission in the first place.
Finn opened his mouth to reply, but surprisingly Vance beat him to it. “But I understand two of the students are already attending Johnson Middle?” Which was a stunningly normal question, considering Sam didn’t have any history with this guy and even he was wanting to yell “what the ever-loving fuck” at him.
“Mr. Connelly,” Harvey ground out.
“Agent Connelly,” Vance corrected, and Sam watched in fascination as a pink stain started in Harvey’s neck and rose up his throat. He wondered briefly if the kids used it as an early warning system.
“Agent Connelly, I really feel that a bigger school—more diverse perhaps—might be better equipped—”
“Did you really just say more diverse?” Sam interrupted, completely baffled. “As in you are admitting your school isn’t inclusive? That it is in fact elitist, segregated perhaps?” He glanced at Finn.
“Does the school board know this sort of discrimination is practiced here?”
“Now, Mr. Piper—”
“Agent—”
“Agent Piper,” Harvey snapped out. “That is not what I meant at all. You are twisting my words. I am simply worried that we may not be ready to ensure these students receive the correct learning environment.”
“Well, assigning them to help the maintenance man replace lightbulbs certainly won’t further their education,” Vance pointed out in a very helpful tone.
Finn and Sam both gaped at each other and stood at the same time, as if it had been rehearsed. “Mr. Harvey,” Finn said, “I think the best course of action will be if we interview the students and their guardians and then make a report and a recommendation to you”—Harvey smiled—“the superintendent, and to the board.” And just as quickly his smile vanished.
It was Finn who smiled sweetly that time, and ignoring Harvey’s blustering, swept out of the office. As soon as the door closed behind them, Finn leaned close to Sam and said, “Would it be really immature of me to say I want to high-five you right now?” Finn shot a determined look at the receptionist and stepped away from them to talk to her.
“That was the same Mr. Harvey, wasn’t it?” Sam asked.
Vance nodded.
“You do know what he admitted to in there amounts to discrimination, don’t you?”
“Against enhanced?” Vance said bitterly. “People are more likely to call it a public service.”
“Which is bullshit,” Sam immediately responded. “You’re better than them. He certainly knew it.”
“Did he?” Vance asked.
“You frighten him, Vance. And that puts you in a position of power.”
Vance shook his head. “Which is the last thing I want. You make me sound like a bully.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth.” Sam put his hand on Vance’s arm but heard a throat cleared and turned to see a suited middle-aged man standing next to an enhanced teenager.
“Dr. Rayner?” Sam guessed, and he smiled warmly as they all shook hands.
“I’m sorry for ambushing you like this, but I was just told the meeting had been canceled.”
Sam shook his head. “Absolutely not, sir.” He turned to ask Vance if he knew where he should be going and caught the look of wonder on Kyle Rayner’s face. He was staring up at Vance like he had just met his favorite movie star.
“Kyle?” Vance took his hand. “My name’s Agent Connelly, but you can call me Vance,” he said firmly and introduced him to Sam and Finn.
“You’re in the FBI?” he squeaked.
Vance nodded. “Absolutely.”
Sam hoped he wasn’t overstepping. “I saw a cafeteria. Perhaps it would be a good idea to go there?”
“Especially as”—Dr. Rayner looked at his son—“Marie, did she say her name was?”
Kyle nodded.
“Marie and Jonathan have both been sent back to class. I understand Marie’s mom already left, and Jonathan didn’t have his guardian present.”
Sam looked at Finn. It was obvious the meeting was never going to take place.
“I think coffee sounds like a good idea,” Vance said with feeling and politely thanked the receptionist as they all left.
They chose to walk across the parking lot to the other building that housed the school cafeteria, visible from where they stood. Sam turned when he heard footsteps behind him and saw to his surprise Marie and a boy who was likely Jonathan both running to catch up. He grinned and immediat
ely called headquarters to ask if they could inform the school that Jonathan Deen and Marie Adams were with the agents and that they would return them to class when they were finished.
Marie looked thrilled to be with them, and she quickly introduced Jonathan. Sam bought the kids juice, and the rest of them had coffee.
“So am I right in thinking that despite what Mr. Harvey assured me, this school isn’t as welcoming as I was led to believe?” Dr. Rayner put down his coffee cup and addressed Finn.
Finn shot a quick look at Jonathan and Marie, and Vance understood immediately. It was hardly fair to make the kids frightened of a school they might not have a choice in going to. Dr. Rayner followed his gaze and changed the subject immediately. “I don’t suppose it’s likely I would ever get to meet whichever doctor you report to, confidentially of course?” He chuckled. “I’m aware you need medicals, and I would love to consult.” He looked at Kyle indulgently.
Finn nodded. “I’m sure our doctor would be delighted, and”—he glanced at all the kids—“we are getting a support group together where enhanced kids can meet. Maybe their guardians can have coffee, compare notes. That sort of thing.”
Kyle and Jonathan seemed eager, but Marie scoffed immediately. Vance tried to look reassuring as the door opened and Marie scowled.
“Marcus Adams, Jonathan Deen. You are both due in class, now,” the woman dressed in the suit added.
Finn stood up immediately and put out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced. I’m Agent—”
“Mayer.”
Sam watched as the woman pursed her lips around the word as if she found forming the sound distasteful, and her fingers barely grazed Finn’s hand. Her eyes flicked to Vance. “Mr. Connelly,” she acknowledged. “Marcus, Jonathan, now.”
Sam turned to look at Vance, assuming this was a teacher, and took a sharp breath in. Vance’s face was completely blank, void of all emotion. Stripped of feeling, as if someone had peeled Vance’s real face away and left something essentially wrong. Vance was the most transparent person he knew, and he definitely would never make a poker player. Vance obviously knew this woman. Sam had a sudden urge to touch Vance. Thank goodness he was too far away.