The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4

by Krista Street

  To think an actual explosion had occurred was unfathomable.

  THE NEXT FEW hours passed in a slow, frustrating haze. Guards appeared handing out blankets to ward off the chill, but we didn’t need them for long as the sun climbed the sky. Another warm day loomed.

  But the morning chill was the least of my worries. None of us knew yet what happened. And despite multiple employees asking the guards for more information, they all shook their heads. It didn’t seem we would have any answers today.

  Those who were lucky enough to have their car keys in their pockets had tried to drive home.

  They were all stopped.

  When demanding answers, the guards simply told them that nobody was allowed to leave until more information was acquired.

  “Do they think that one of us caused the explosion?” Amy huddled closer to me and asked the question under her breath.

  “Possibly,” I replied. My stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and it didn’t seem we’d have an opportunity for lunch. But food was the furthest thing from my mind. I kept thinking about the Production Room incident yesterday. I was attacked and now an explosion today.

  Are they linked?

  I shaded my eyes from the overhead sun and scanned the crowds for what felt like the hundredth time. There was still no sign of the Kazzies. So far, I hadn’t seen anybody from the Inner Sanctum. “Do you think they’re okay?”

  Amy patted my hand. “I’m sure they’re fine. They’re probably in the parking lot on the other side.”

  Even though I knew she was right, worry still clawed my gut. If anything had happened to Bethany, Dorothy, Garrett, or any of the other Kazzies . . .

  No, don’t think about it. Just the thought, made me sick.

  BY LATE AFTERNOON, MRRA soldiers and law enforcement had divided the hundreds of workers huddled in the parking lot into smaller groups. Each and every one of us had been questioned and photographed. I knew it wouldn’t be the end. We’d all hear from them again as it was only the beginning of their investigation.

  I thought for sure we’d be allowed back inside to collect our things, but that never happened. Instead, hours passed while the sun made its lazy trail across the sky. The heat wasn’t helping. The chilly morning had turned into a sweltering afternoon. And despite asking the tense and anxious-looking guards for answers multiple times, they refused to divulge any details.

  To pass the time, I imagined that Davin was with me. I wanted nothing more than to feel his comforting arms around me. Closing my eyes, I pretended his unique scent flooded my senses and his deep voice soothed my worries.

  “Meghan?”

  I was so lost in my daydream that for a moment I thought it had come true. Davin. Smiling, I opened my eyes.

  “Ian!” My head snapped back.

  He stood only a few feet away with his arms dangling at his sides. A heavy expression covered his face, his dimple nowhere to be seen.

  My heart sank. “What happened?”

  He stepped closer and reached for me. His fingers brushed my forearm. “Come with me. We still haven’t officially released anything to the public or the employees, but I wanted you to know before we did.”

  Amy’s gaze traveled between the two of us. When she tried to follow, Ian stopped her. “Sorry. Meghan only. They’re not allowing anybody else in.”

  Amy hung back. I felt her gaze on me as Ian and I hurried through the crowd. Murmured whispers erupted as we passed everyone. Even here, I was a familiar face.

  “You’re worrying me. What happened?” I said the words in a low tone so nobody but Ian would hear.

  He glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim.

  He never replied.

  My heart fluttered when an MRRA guard admitted us inside. A somber expression covered his face too.

  I stepped closer to Ian once we were inside the familiar lobby. He towered above me like a giant redwood. His fiery hair stood up on all ends as if he’d been running his hands through it.

  My breath caught in my throat. “Ian, tell me what’s going on. Please.”

  His gaze wouldn’t meet mine. He shuffled his feet when he said, “There were two explosions this morning. One was in the Production Room, and the other was in the Inner Sanctum.”

  My hands turned to ice.

  Ian finally looked up. When he saw my stricken expression, he reached for me.

  His hands felt as hot as lava. They scorched me in his grasp. But it was the look in his eyes that fired my anxiety full-throttle.

  It was a look I’d seen before.

  When the MRRA soldiers had arrived at my parents’ doorstep to tell us about my brother.

  “No.” I shook my head “No. No. No! Please tell me what I’m thinking isn’t true!”

  He took a step closer. “I’m sorry, Meghan.”

  I swallowed tightly. “How many?”

  “Over half are dead. The other half are badly injured.”

  Tears filled my eyes. “Bethany? Garrett? Dorothy?”

  From the expression on his face, I already knew the answer. He replied quietly, “They’re all dead.”

  “No!” My knees gave out. I fell to the ground.

  Dead.

  The word was so definite. So finite. It was a word I’d heard too often.

  Ian’s word pounded at my heart. It felt like a boxer beat everything inside of me until I was nothing but a bloody pulp.

  A sob wracked my chest. Then another. The tears fell next. Hot and steady, they trailed down my cheeks.

  Ian crouched at my side. “I’m so sorry. I know they were your friends, but there’s something else . . .” He laid a large hand on my shoulder. “Someone obviously sabotaged us. It’s not just the Production Room and Kazzies they targeted. All of the research is gone. The database has been wiped clean. Any hope of producing a cure blew up in the explosions. And the Kazzies who had volunteered for the drug trials, they . . .” He took a deep breath. “Even the ones that survived will most likely carry permanent injuries.”

  My mind reeled with all that he implied.

  “How . . .” I wiped a hand unsteadily across my cheek. “How did this happen? How could this happen? Nothing like this would’ve happened a year ago. Security wouldn’t have allowed it!” My voice rose with each word as burning rage brewed inside me.

  The pain and fury blended into one until it felt like an animal clawed in my chest, demanding to be let loose. I wanted to howl in frustration.

  In the back of my mind, I felt Sara trying to get in touch, but I couldn’t talk to her. Not now. How could I tell her what had happened?

  Bethany’s dead. Garrett’s dead. Dorothy’s dead.

  And all because of me.

  I’d encouraged each and every one of them to come here and join us. If I hadn’t done that, they’d still be alive.

  Images of Dorothy’s round figure and comforting smile filled my mind. She’d always been so kind even when the Compounds had beaten her down. Even then, she’d been a gentle soul.

  And Garrett. He’d always been so quiet, so content to draw his art. He’d only ever wanted to be free.

  And Bethany. The withdrawn Kazzie who’d come to me to help her. All she’d ever wanted was to look normal. Images of her proud smile as she showed us pictures of Oliver flashed through my mind. She’d singled me out and trusted me—she thought for sure I could help.

  And now she was dead.

  How am I ever going to tell Makayla?

  Fresh tears filled my eyes. “Take me to them. I need to see them. I need to know that they’re really gone.”

  Ian’s hands stopped me when I tried to push past him. “I can’t. The entire Compound is on lockdown. Nobody will be allowed in or out of this building until the investigation concludes. And . . . there’s something else—”

  “But they were my friends!” I gripped his shirt and dug my fingers into it. The fabric balled in my fists like a crumpled rag. I pushed against him. “They were my friends, and now they’re d
ead! All I’m asking is to see them!”

  His eyes softened. “I know, and I’m so sorry. But Meghan, you need to listen to me. I wanted to be the one to tell you because I know it’s bullshit.”

  His words were like a fog filling my mind. Images of my dead friends, burned to death and exploded into a thousand pieces, kept pummeling me. Another tear streaked down my face.

  I wiped it away. “What are you talking about? What’s bullshit?”

  He paused. When he said his next words, he looked away. “Right now, they think it’s you who did it, Meghan.”

  “Me? What do you mean me?” Confusion rained down on me just as Dr. Dornhoff, Dr. Sadowsky, and four MRRA guards marched around the corner.

  Shock covered Dr. Sadowsky’s face while anger and indignation filled Dr. Dornhoff’s.

  I turned wild eyes on Ian. “What’s going on? Ian, what’s happening?”

  The guards reached for me and slid smooth, metal cuffs around my wrists.

  “Ian!” I struggled against them, but it was no use.

  “I’m sorry,” Ian replied quietly. “But I thought it was best coming from me.”

  Another sob wracked my chest as my world began caving in. “But I didn’t do anything! What’s this all about?”

  Dr. Dornhoff stepped forward. “What’s happening is that you’re being arrested, Dr. Forester. We managed to extract video feed from the Production Room yesterday before the explosion destroyed the rest, and the video shows one thing. You planted the bombs in the Production Room.”

  “Me?” But that’s impossible!

  The Director’s icy gaze shifted to the guards. “Take her away.”

  “But it wasn’t me!”

  My words fell on deaf ears. I felt Ian’s sad gaze follow me as I staggered on shaky limbs behind the guards. They yanked me down the hall, their grip unforgiving.

  My mind reeled with everything that happened. My friends were dead. Our research was gone. And I was being blamed for it all. But despite the gravity of what I faced ahead, only one thought filled my mind.

  Any hope we had of discovering a cure just vanished in a single afternoon.

  Which meant that Davin and every other Kazzie in this country were at risk of imprisonment once again.

  22 – HE RETURNS

  The guards took me to a narrow hallway that led to another door. Bright white walls filled this space. It was so typical of corridors in the Compounds. That crazy thought was the only thing that penetrated the fog in my mind.

  At the end of the hall, the guards opened another door, and I realized what it was.

  A discreet exit from the Compound that employees knew nothing about. Outside, a patrol car waited.

  The sun was on its downward descent which meant the end of the workday had almost come. I knew Davin would be expecting me home soon. He probably had no idea of all that had transpired today. And I still hadn’t opened up to Sara’s persistent knockings. I just couldn’t.

  I eyed the cop car as anxiety strummed along my limbs. It wasn’t the first time I was going to be placed in the back of one. And it wasn’t the first time I’d been arrested.

  Following my illegal break-in to Reservation 1, I’d also been arrested. And now those charges, while dropped, coupled with these charges . . .

  I knew it didn’t look good.

  “When do I get my phone call?”

  The guard opened the patrol car door and forced me inside. I peered up at him. Behind him, shadows from the monstrous Compound filled my view.

  A hard edge lined the guard’s features. It was impossible to decipher his emotions. “You’ll have to ask the police officers.” With that, he slammed the door.

  The police officer driving the vehicle pulled away. In the distance, the MRI and Compound employees still stood in the parking lot. Except now, at least five buses lined it. It appeared that the employees were being herded onto the buses one-by-one. Apparently, they were finally letting them go.

  I snorted quietly. Now that they have me locked up, the apparent bomber, of course they’ll let them go.

  It still hadn’t fully sunk in that I was being blamed for the explosions and deaths of the Kazzies. Anger fired within me at the absurdity of it. It didn’t make any sense! I’d only gone into the Production Room to find the unauthorized person. I’d never planted any bombs. Surely, the videos showed that. Not to mention, my incessant work to help the Kazzies. How can they possibly think it’s me?

  An image returned in my mind. It was of feet leaping past me after I’d been pushed to the floor. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the memory. My eidetic memory created a slideshow in front of me. I slowed the image down until I could make out every detail on those shoes.

  They were small and covered with booties. So the assailant was properly suited up. Most likely, the feet belonged to a woman. If I had to guess, I’d say she wore a size seven. The shoes poking above the booties were simple and black. From the angle, I couldn’t make out a brand.

  I opened my eyes as a howl of frustration threatened to overwhelm me. It’s imperative I discover who wore them. Most likely, that person was the true criminal.

  I nibbled my lip.

  Monica?

  She’d been just outside the Production Room after the incident. I closed my eyes again until my memory brought back that day. An image of her there and then gone flashed in my mind. I slowed the image.

  Monica had been standing in the corner. She wasn’t suited up. My gaze traveled down the image in my memory.

  Booties covered Monica’s feet.

  My eyes flashed open. The suspicion that Monica had been the one to attack me had been rolling around in my mind since the incident. She’d always been so vicious. Not to mention, from day one, I’d been her target. Who’s to say she’s not behind all of this?

  I leaned forward in my seat. “Where are you taking me?”

  We’d just exited the Compound. Behind us, the buses were still being filled with other employees.

  “To the police station.” The officer said the words in a monotone voice. He never glanced in the rearview mirror. Instead, he calmly drove forward.

  I chewed my lip as I debated my options. I knew I’d be allowed a phone call once I reached the station. I also knew I’d go through the booking procedure.

  Davin’s going to flip. As much as I wanted to call him and reassure him that I was all right, my phone call couldn’t be to him. I needed to call an attorney.

  But I don’t know any attorneys.

  But Cate would. Perhaps she could give me some advice. Once again, I knew who my phone call would be to.

  WHEN WE REACHED the police station, everything passed in a blur. Similar to Rapid City, I was searched before I donned prison garbs. I watched mutely while they took inventory of my meager possessions. After that, I recited my medical history, signed forms, and had my fingerprints and mugshot taken.

  And finally, I was given my phone call.

  I stood in a drab, concrete hallway with a guard standing at my side. The phone was at standing height, so I stood while I called Cate. This time, she picked up.

  “Meghan? I just received word that there were explosions at Compound 3. Is that true?”

  I clutched the receiver tightly. Voices rumbled around me from other inmates and guards. I plugged my other ear so I could hear her better. “Yes, it’s true, and I’m being blamed for it.”

  “What? They’re blaming you for the explosions?”

  “Yes.” Relief filled me at Cate’s disbelief.

  I quickly summed up what had happened yesterday in the Production Room. I told her about the person who shoved me and the shoes they’d been wearing. “I’m sure that’s who planted the bombs but, for some reason, Dr. Dornhoff thinks it was me. He said something about video feed showing me planting the bombs. But that can’t possibly be true. I never did it!”

  “Of course, you never did it. We need to sort this out and get you out of there. Do you have an attorney?”
/>   “No, I was hoping you could help me with that.”

  Rustling sounded from her end, as if she were shuffling papers. “I’ll contact my attorney in Washington and see if he has any referrals in California. Just hang tight for now. I’ll have an attorney come directly to you at the jail. Is there anybody else you want me to contact in the meantime?”

  “I’m sure Amy’s told Davin by now that I was taken away, but could you call him and fill him in?”

  “Davin?”

  I almost smacked myself. Cate had no idea that I was dating a Kazzie. “It’s a long story, but Davin’s here with me in California. Neither he or Amy know that I was arrested.” I rattled off both of their phone numbers to her. “Will you call them and tell them everything? And if you don’t mind calling my parents as well, I’m sure they’d want to be informed.”

  Scratching sounded from Cate’s end. I knew she was writing down the phone numbers. “I’ll call all of them,” she said briskly, “and don’t worry, Meghan. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  I felt slightly better after Cate and I hung up. However, my stomach still twisted into knots when the female guard gripped my bicep and tugged me down the hall. Concrete walls and floor greeted us, along with a stale smell. My hands were cuffed behind me, and the pants they’d put on me were too big.

  It was all too familiar.

  The pant hems dragged across the floor as I shuffled to a cell. The guard pushed me inside, undid my cuffs, and locked the door behind me. The sound of that key twisting caused a surge of panic to race through me. More than anything, I wanted to bang my hands against the door and demand to be let out.

  But I knew it was useless. The only silver lining was that unlike Rapid City, I was alone in this cell.

  At least I won’t be harassed by other inmates.

  Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I surveyed the small prison cell. It was barely eight feet by ten feet. It held a single toilet, sink, bed, and a lone tiny window.

  I sat down on the bed and hung my head in my hands. The hard mattress pressed against my thighs. A part of me wanted to curl up on my side and cry again.