Stealing Liberty

by Jennifer Froelich

  “Finding that tunnel was lucky,” said Paisley.

  “Riley called it providence,” Xoey said, frowning. She’s sure all good things come from God, but not at all sure God approves of our plan to take the Liberty Bell.

  “We’re not stealing it,” I told her. “It’s ours. It belongs to the American people.”

  It was the first time I had ever called myself an American out loud.

  Xoey just shook her head. “You are stealing it, and you know it. Maybe you’re stealing it back, but—”

  “Not stealing it back,” I interrupted. “Returning it to its rightful owners. Like the Year of Jubilee, stamped right on the Bell!”

  Xoey stared at her feet. “I don’t know.”

  Sometimes the depth of her conscience is truly annoying.

  Oliver stood in the doorway, watching us argue. “It’s fine,” he said. “We can steal it without her.”

  Xoey turned at the sound of his voice. Oliver lowered his eyes and her cheeks turned red.

  “I have to go.” She grabbed her tablet and left the room. For the next few minutes, Oliver stared at the chalkboard while I talked about forklifts and robotic dollies. Finally I gave up. He wasn’t listening.

  Last night, it was more of the same. Xoey was out in the laundry room with Riley when Adam started playing music. After a while, she came through to the Hidden Library and sat by him, flipping through playlists and stacks of discs, making suggestions, asking questions. Oliver ignored them, frowning over a book about Abraham Lincoln, though I never saw him turn a page.

  “What about this one?” Adam asked Xoey. Sad guitar music filled the room, followed by a mournful voice singing a kind of prayer.

  “Oh, I know this song!” Xoey said. “My mom used to sing it. It’s ancient.”

  We listened in silence.

  “This version is a little different,” Xoey said when it was over. “I know another verse… You’d like it, Reed.”

  She began to sing.

  “I had a little book was given to me.

  And every page spelled Liberty.

  All my trials, Lord.

  Soon be over.”

  This time it was Oliver who got up and left. I grimaced apologetically at Xoey then followed him, catching him on the stairs outside the laundry room.

  “What are you doing, man?”

  He shook his head and didn’t answer. I thought about Xoey’s head bent toward Adam’s, almost touching, and remembered what I felt when I saw him and Riley together.

  I leaned against the metal railing. “You know, when I first got here, I thought you had a thing for Riley.”

  Oliver studied his feet. “She and I are just friends. Always have been.”

  “I know. I’ve known ever since I introduced you to Xoey in the potato field. Your face when you saw her—”

  “No. You’ve got it wrong.”

  He didn’t sound convincing, so I pressed on. “I don’t think anything’s going on between them. They just both love music, you know? If you like Xoey—”

  “I don’t.” His words sounded bitter, like he was spitting them out.

  I clapped him on the shoulder. “All right. Whatever you say.”

  Oliver walked away and I went back inside.

  My work day is not as hard as I thought it would be. Maybe I’m getting stronger, or maybe it’s because Jay overhears me humming and starts teasing me about it. Then he is humming too and making up words. By the end of the day, the whole crew is singing. I don’t know why it made the work easier, but it did. When I reach Kino’s office tonight, I have to slow my step and stop smiling. No need to make her suspicious.

  Kino sits behind her desk, drawing an idle circle across the surface with her finger. My mom paces in the vid playing above the fireplace, as usual. She looks just like she has for weeks. I can tell she’s being fed, at least. I remind myself how emaciated she used to be and almost feel grateful enough to thank God. Almost, but not quite.

  “Are you looking forward to the president’s visit?”

  “No.”

  I am honest with Kino whenever possible. It seems to amuse her. Tonight, she laughs.

  “No, I don’t imagine you would be. What about the dance? Do you have a date?”

  “Yes.” For some reason I blush. “Xoey Stone.”

  Kino’s lips twitch. She rises from her chair and walks toward the fireplace. “Sweet, sweet Xoey. Yes, she would like you, wouldn’t she? The naïve little Christian has probably had her eye on you since day one. Every old-fashioned damsel needs a strong man to rescue her from the cruel, cruel world.”

  I bite my tongue.

  “You don’t like that, do you? Me picking on poor Xoey. I wonder, though. Is she enough woman for you? Meek and mild…not at all like feisty Riley Paca.”

  I’m sure my face is redder than ever. I wish she didn’t keep it so hot in here.

  “I told you. I’m done with her.”

  “Yes, so you said. But what haven’t you told me?”

  I’m confused. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, come on, Reed!” She smacks the fireplace mantel with her open hand. “Do you think I care about your love life? I have been so patient since Middlebrooks got here, so restrained. But it was never going to last.”

  “Uh…”

  “I want to know what’s happening with the students. Most of all, I want to know who is responsible for flying that flag over Zak’s body!”

  “I don’t—”

  “Did you think I had forgotten?”

  “No, I just—”

  “You think I haven’t noticed the graffiti? You know that flag was banned because it’s offensive, don’t you? The blood-striped standard of a capitalistic regime, stars representing the nations they conquered.”

  I clear my throat. “I haven’t heard anything about the flag. Most kids just talk about the dance, the food.”

  Kino rolls her eyes. “But you’re supposed to be spying for me, Reed! Digging for answers. That’s your job!”

  “You haven’t asked in so long. Since I figured out Zak was the bomber, I thought…”

  “You thought what?” She stares at me. “Your work was over? Or Middlebrooks’ priorities are mine?”

  “Maybe.” I glance at my mom on the wall. My heart is pounding. What will Kino do to her?

  “You’re useless to me if you can’t come up with a few simple answers. I can only protect your mother as long as you help me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you haven’t seen a single student drawing the flag symbol?”

  “No.”

  “Or heard any rumors about the flag — where it came from, even? It couldn’t have appeared from thin air!”

  I study my feet. “No.”

  “Look at me!”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  She glares at me. “What about the Med Center theft? Have you seen any kids selling drugs? Any kids who seem high?”

  “No,” I say. “Nothing like that.”

  “I’ll admit, I’m disappointed. Extremely disappointed.” She sighs deeply. Both of us watch my mom pace her cell. “The next time I call you to my office, you need to be prepared. You need to have something to share. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Remember, as soon as the president has come and gone, this will be my school again. No more treats, no more restrictions on discipline. My school, my rules.”

  I nod and try to think of something to say, but something distracts me — something strange about my mom’s video feed. Something familiar. My heart pounds harder.

  “I get it.” I take a step sideways, putting Kino between me and the vid wall so I can see them both at the same time. “I haven’t been watchful like I should be. With my new job at the train yard...”

  “Don’t give me excuses. Give me results.”

  “I will.” I’m staring at my mom again and I feel sick. So sick, I don’t know how I’m forming words. “I promise.�
�

  I turn to leave. As soon as Kino’s door clicks shut behind me, I lean against the wall and lower myself to the floor. My heart is still pounding and now tears run hot and fast down my face. I try to make sense of what I’ve seen.

  There’s no way to verify it — no one who can tell me if I’m right or wrong. But I would swear — I would swear — Kino is not showing me a live feed of my mom anymore.

  I’m seeing a video loop. One edited from several weeks ago.

  Chapter 34

  Riley

  * * *

  Xoey and I are sitting in the laundry room, keeping watch for Adam and Oliver in the Hidden Library, when Reed stumbles through the door.

  Xoey puts down her tablet. “Reed? What happened?”

  For a minute he says nothing, but he’s pale as death.

  “My mom.” His eyes lock with mine. “I think she might be… I don’t know if she’s still alive.”

  Xoey takes his hand and leads him toward a washing machine, where she makes him sit down. “Tell us what happened.”

  So Reed tells us about all his visits to Kino’s office this spring, how he focuses on vids of his mother while Kino drills him with questions.

  “I used to stare at the tattoo on Mom’s arm, trying to make out the numbers and symbols, thinking someday…” He takes a shaky breath. “Then they stopped feeding her. So I watched her waste away and it felt like I could see every pound, every ounce she lost.”

  Adam and Oliver come through the cupboard from the Hidden Library, but don’t interrupt. Reed presses his hands against his legs, trying to keep them from shaking.

  “Then I watched her regain weight. Some of it, at least. Enough so she was strong enough to get out of bed. But I still watched and noticed things. A couple of months ago, she had a black eye and a bloody lip.” He turns to Oliver. “You remember me telling you about that? I watched it fade away. Then there was a cut on her arm a few weeks back. It got covered with a bandage for a while, then it healed too.”

  “What did you see tonight?”

  “The cut was back. At the beginning of the video, it’s not there. But she’s pacing, as usual, and when she turns around, the cut’s there again.”

  I frown. “You’re sure? Maybe you got mixed up. Which arm—”

  Reed interrupts me. “No, I made sure. I watched more carefully, saw it show up twice and disappear twice.” He hits the washing machine, making Xoey flinch. “The vid’s not live, no matter what the time stamp says! Someone messed with it.”

  Oliver rubs his head, pacing. “Does Kino know?”

  Reed shakes his head. “Who knows? I don’t even know what this means.”

  “It means you’re like the rest of us now,” Adam says. “You get to wonder every day whether your mother is dead or alive.”

  For a minute, we all just stare at Adam. Then Reed vaults off the washing machine and is in his face, trying to shove him against the wall. Adam’s too strong, though. Immovable. He pushes back and Reed starts losing ground until Oliver gets between them.

  “Knock it off!”

  Adam shoves Oliver aside and glares at Reed. “That’s never even occurred to you, has it? At least you get to see your mother. While Xoey, Sam…me. None of us know what happened to our mothers. Riley gets to wonder about both her parents. Now we’re supposed to hold your hand? Feel sorry for you?”

  Reed is shaking. His jaw is clenched and his hands are in fists. I know he’s wishing he had a few more pounds of muscle on him so he could take Adam down. Bile rises in my throat. I’ve had enough.

  “Come on, Adam.” I grab a handful of his shirt and steer him toward the door. He lets me. “Let’s go outside and cool off.”

  Together we climb the stairs, but not before I glance back at Reed. His head is in his hands and Xoey has her arm around his shoulder. My chest feels tight.

  Adam is right. I know it. I’ve even said it. I feel sorry for Reed anyway.

  We walk toward the fountain and sit. It’s a beautiful night. The warmest we’ve had so far. But I’m shaking like Reed was. I shove my hands between my knees, hoping Adam doesn’t see. He does.

  “You’re cold.” He moves closer and puts his arm around me. For a minute we sit there quietly. I can feel him calming down. It would be so easy to let it go, but I can’t.

  “What was that back there?”

  Adam shrugs. “I don’t know.”

  I scoot away, enough to twist around and face him. “Come on. Tell me.”

  “Reed, he…” Adam sighs. “He rubs me the wrong way. Everything he does. He always has to be the center of attention. The guy with all the plans. I try to ignore it. How cocky he is. But tonight… I mean, does everything have to be about him?”

  I take his hand. “You get it, though, right? If you had seen your mother all these months, then you find out it’s not real? That someone’s trying to trick you?”

  “Sure, but—”

  “He’s got to be wondering how long it’s been like this. If Kino is trying to get something from it, other than her joy in mental torture.” I shake my head. I shudder every time I think about what happened the last time I was in Kino’s office.

  “At least he got to see her for a while. I’d give anything to see my mother again.”

  “So would I. But he thought his mom was dead, then she’s not. And now? He doesn’t know. He’s panicking. I would be too. It doesn’t matter if he had something we didn’t. He lost it. It’s got to hurt.”

  Adam lets go of my hand. “What happened to you? You used to hate him.”

  I stare at the fountain. “After Kino killed Zak... I don’t know. The hate just died. Fighting with people who are not our enemies is a waste of energy. We need to work together.”

  “But you don’t like him, do you?”

  “Like Reed Paine?” I laugh and hope it doesn’t sound forced. “You’re kidding right?”

  His lips curve. He takes my hand again.

  “Now come on. It’s almost time for curfew.”

  I toss and turn all night. My thoughts are a mess, but somehow, when I wake up, I’m angry at Oliver. He’s the one who pushed me into this fake relationship with Adam, which is only partially fake and confusing us both. I don’t talk to anyone during breakfast. Afterward I head straight to the munitions plant.

  I’m still in a bad mood Monday morning, thinking about the long week ahead. I can’t wait for Friday. Friday is the day the Liberty Bell will arrive.

  But will it come and go, or come and stay? And what about Reed? What if he gets caught?

  At lunchtime, my stomach is in knots again and I can’t eat. Oliver sits two tables away, talking to three new shells. I glare at him for a while and feel a little better.

  Xoey elbows me. “Do you know what happened to Kate?”

  I shake my head. “Why? Where is she?”

  Xoey tilts her head to the right. “Two tables away.”

  I see her now. Her head is bowed over her food, but she doesn’t have enough hair to hide her face. Her lip is fat, crusted over with dried blood and she has a huge bruise on her temple.

  “Haak?”

  Xoey shakes her head. “I don’t think so. Middlebrooks wants us to look good for the cameras.”

  “But Kate’s not on her favorites list.”

  “I wonder why? She’s pretty.”

  I sigh. I feel bad about Kate’s bruises, but Xoey is being too nice. Kate has been nothing but mean to her.

  “It’s because she has no filter,” I say. “She’s unpredictable and cruel.”

  “Hmm. Maybe. I would still like to know. Rosa Linda had unexplained bruises a week ago, now Kate. I think maybe Brock and Xu did it.”

  I’m not eating anyway, so I stand up. “I’ll find out.”

  Kate sees me coming. She jumps up and heads for the door, not even bothering to collect her dishes. I catch up with her near the stairs to the Med Center.

  “Kate?”

  She turns and glares at me. “What do you wa
nt?”

  I smile, but I’m sure it looks forced. “I just want to know if you’re okay.”

  Her scowl deepens. “Why would you care?”

  “Why wouldn’t I care? If someone hurt you—”

  “If?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You’re not very bright, are you?”

  I take a deep breath. “Okay, let’s start over. Can I do anything to help you?”

  Her eyes glaze over and her fat lip lifts in a sneer. For a second, her expression is so murderous, I have to resist the temptation to take a step backward. An instant later, she’s calm again, almost smug. This is the Kate I’m used to.

  “Talk to him.” She jerks her chin toward the cafeteria door. Oliver is just walking through it. “Ask Oliver why I look like this.”

  Chapter 35

  Reed

  * * *

  I don’t remember much about Monday. I spent the whole day in a fog. By Tuesday my emotions are raw. Worrying about my mom has blended with my anxiety over the heist, making me jumpy. I don’t know if I can pull this thing off, but for some reason, it feels more important than ever.

  This morning after breakfast, the boys line up outside an unused classroom to be fitted for new dress uniforms and formal suits for the dance. When it’s my turn, I fidget so much, I end up bleeding from all the pin pricks. The tailor, brought in for the fittings, is a wrinkly little man who may be poking me on purpose at this point. I feel bad for making his job harder, but I can’t get my mind to settle down. One minute, I’m trying to convince myself my mom isn’t dead, the next I’m worrying I haven’t gone back to the tunnels to make sure they are passable.

  “Ouch!”

  The tailor sighs. “Hold still! I’m almost done.”

  When I change back into my regular uniform and head out the door, Adam is heading in. He glares at me and shakes his head.

  This isn’t over, his eyes say.