The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4

by Krista Street

  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.

  “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.”

  She just eyed me and sipped her coffee again. “What was so important that you needed to get in there?”

  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 rearr
anged 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 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.

  “For the time being, yes. Unless the country votes to free them, they’ll stay contained.”

  Cate and I shared a look.

  Then that meant we still had the same job ahead: to convince the public to free the Kazzies and to convince the president to hold a vote.

  WE STAYED WITH President Morgan for another hour. She was interested in what Cate and I had been doing since the last time we met, and if we felt any progress had been made with our political endeavors. Cate and I agreed that the general feeling among the crowds was positive at the rallies and public conventions that we held. Now, it was just a matter of continuing that.

  The president seemed particularly interested in Cate’s new position. They discussed it at length, so I excused myself to check in with Sara.

  A White House staff member escorted me to the bathroom and waited outside. I washed my hands and face and tidied up my hair while I spoke with the twin.

  Dr. Roberts is going to be removed.

  Her surprise was immediate. He is?

  Yeah, the president said he’ll be gone within twenty-four hours.

  Oh, thank goodness! So, now what? Who’s taking over?

  I don’t know. She didn’t say.

  Well, anybody will be better than him.

  Exactly. I finished drying my hands. How’s Davin?

  Still in isolation, but he’s fine.

  Hearing that he was now on day twenty of being held captive against his will made my gut burn.

  Before you go, Meghan, I just wanted to thank you once again for fighting for us.

  If it had been possible to hug her, I would have. Since I couldn’t, I settled with. You’re welcome, but don’t thank me quite yet, you’re still not out of there.

  Even if we never are, thank you.

  My brow furrowed. Whenever I heard Sara, Sophie, Dorothy, Victor, or any other Kazzie sound resigned to a life that they deemed unavoidable, I felt sad. For so many years, they’d been treated as dangerous or inferior, and many times, it seemed they believed they didn’t deserve any better.

  But they did.

  And sooner or later, the Kazzies and the public would see that.

  17 – REMOVAL

  After Cate finished with the president, we had a quick dinner at a local restaurant. Cate spent a good portion of it talking about Harper and how her daughter was doing now that I’d left Seattle. It was close to seven at night when we finished and stepped outside to the curb. As cool wind whipped around us, Cate pulled something out of her bag and handed it to me.

  My eyes widened when I realized it was a new phone in a shiny box. I flipped it over. It was the latest model manufactured by a leading tech firm from before Makanza. And it was unopened. In other words, it probably cost a fortune.

  “Where did you get this?” I ran my finger along the box’s smooth surface as wind blew long locks of brown hair around my face.

  “I had my assistant pick it up. It’s a good thing you have a photographic memory. You’ll easily be able to program the phone numbers from your last phone into this one.”

  “How much do I owe you?”

  “Only a promise that you won’t get arrested again.”

  I paused. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. No more arrests and that phone’s free of charge.”

  Grinning, I stuffed the phone into my jacket’s deep pocket. I still wore the military coat and my dirty clothes. More than anything, I wanted a shower and my own bed, but that was still a few hours away.

  “And here’s the USB. Please return it to Cash.” Cate pressed the small external flash drive into my free hand.

  My fingers closed around it. “I will. Thank you, Cate, for everything. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be in jail.”

  “Well, that’s the last place you should be. We need you out here, whether people are ready to accept that or not.”

  As the car pulled up that would drive me back t
o the airport, Cate pulled me into a hug. It was the first time she’d hugged me. I stiffened initially. Old habits died hard, but then I softened into her. I wasn’t sure if it was the way Cate had spoken of Harper at dinner, or how Sharon had spent weeks outside of Reservation 1 trying to see her son, but guilt filled me. Here I was, hugging another mother who wanted more than anything to be with her child.

  I remembered the conversation with my own mother a few days ago. I should go home for the holidays. Davin’s right. I should try to be a better daughter.

  With that thought burning my mind, Cate and I said our goodbyes before I slid into the car.

  By the time I climbed aboard the MRI jet to fly back to South Dakota, it was eight at night. I wouldn’t arrive until nearly midnight. And since I still had leave from Compound 26, my plan was to get a decent night’s sleep, pack some food, and then—if the roads were passable—return to the reservation tomorrow morning.

  Dr. Roberts was due to be removed tonight.

  By tomorrow, visitors would be allowed in.

  AS THE MRI jet sped west at thirty thousand feet, I played with the USB. Sara and I had spoken initially during the flight, but she’d been distracted with all that was transpiring on the rez. Since it was obvious she wanted to pay attention to what was happening, we’d ended our short chat. So now, I only had my thoughts for company.

  I studied the tiny external flash drive. It was hard to believe this small, seemingly inconsequential device contained the incriminating materials that led to Dr. Roberts’ firing.

  But it still didn’t free my friends.

  The hard plastic pressed against my palms when I squeezed it. Outside, the night sky stretched as far as I could see. I’d thought for sure that seeing the barbaric practices the Kazzies had endured would lead to further action on the president’s part. I’d assumed wrong.

  Flipping the USB back and forth, my brow furrowed. Surely these videos could do more. If the American people saw them . . .

  I stopped those thoughts. The president had explicitly stated she didn’t want this information leaked.

  Yet if they saw them . . .

  I stared out the window as the incriminating thoughts pummeled my mind, like a boxer pounding an opponent. My heartbeat sped up. Defying the president could lead to massive consequences. Unless she doesn’t know I released the videos.