Shifting Power

by Dacia M Arnold

  “You think it’s solid? Doesn’t sound very solid. Who’d you go with?”

  “Teresa Sherman. She’s sweet and fun. She knows the Facility well and is quite the philanthropist.”

  “What didn’t you like about the other one?”

  “We just didn’t click,” Valerie said and waved him off. “Is this what you do all day? Brood over paperwork in the solitude of your fortress?” Valerie joked as she took a seat next to him. She did her best to not wonder what he was up to for the last four months but having him in close quarters uncovered the mystery of how he spent his days.

  “Why does everyone accuse me of brooding? I just printed maps from the control room. I’m comparing power surges from different areas so we can concentrate Jack and Hyka in the right place.”

  “I’m so glad you’re handling all the official business. Planning the wedding really beats brooding over paperwork. Any word on the investigation? Have they found anything on Kevin?”

  “No. He’s moved in but is staying in my old suite in the living area of the Facility. He respectfully declined a room here in the hotel. They’re moving the current suspects to a high-security prison down south. Sasha Bowman and those who approached you in the mall included.”

  “We should give him another job while he’s here,” Valerie suggested. “Or slot him for the fleet like Dad suggested.”

  “Do you think giving him another position to sabotage you is a good idea without your dad to keep him in line?”

  “You don’t think DiaZem could keep him in line? His anger is toward me, not the cause.”

  August sighed. “All we need is the tiniest piece of evidence to prove he did what he did. He’s guilty. I know it, too. Kevin has far more power than he should in any place you send him other than prison. I know this isn’t anything you want to hear, but it’s only a matter of time before this all comes to light. I don’t want the truth coming too late.”

  “Well if the authorities can’t find anything…”

  “Because Kevin is the authority out there, Val.”

  “Who can I trust to do the job? I can’t send Jack out there. Hyka would be torn. Send Duke.”

  August raised an eyebrow. “We’ll host an election of city and regional officials.”

  “I honestly don’t care about politics. I’ll investigate Kevin.”

  “Hun, we’ve got to find an unbiased party.”

  Scott had called her that. The pet name caught her off guard. Valerie held up a finger to August. “No. It is not okay to call me that.”

  “I’m sorry, Val, it just came out.”

  But the effect set in and Valerie’s thoughts swam in a million directions. “Okay. I’m going to go to bed now. We’ll talk more about this later.” Valerie shut her door and collapsed onto the floor, sobbing.

  Hyka and Teresa showed up to the apartment at eight a.m. sharp. Hyka had used her key to enter the apartment, and Valerie saw her slide it into her pocket after they shut the door behind them. Teresa side-eyed the pointed gesture of mistrust. The two women didn’t even speak as they entered; the tension between them was palpable. Hyka clicked a remote and changed the television mounted in the kitchen to display Valerie’s schedule for the day.

  “Dress fitting with Lalit is first. Then there’s a meeting in the main conference room concerning the Cherry Creek incident at eleven.” Hyka spoke directly to the TV, not looking at Teresa. “Be sure Val eats somewhere in that timeframe.”

  “Easy enough.”

  Hyka rolled her eyes. “Call me if you need anything?”

  Valerie nodded and watched her friend leave. The two remaining women stood in the kitchen area. Valerie offered Teresa a cup of coffee.

  “How much do you know about my family?” Valerie probed her temporary assistant. She didn’t mean to test her knowledge as much as to get a sense of what the people outside her circle were privy to. Though she made a point to connect with others in the Facility, the list of people she trusted remained small and consistent. Teresa was the first person she let inside the circle who hadn’t been there since the first weeks of her taking power.

  “I know your brother governs Denver on your behalf, since your father’s passing. You lost your husband to the partial Phase Two earlier this year. Your son is just three, and your baby girl is due in November. Though, I’ve heard nothing about your mother,” Teresa answered.

  “Well, my brother and I have a stressed relationship, but yes, he’s picking up a lot of slack with Dad gone. He’ll likely do more when Jack and Hyka leave for their mission.” Valerie purposefully did not say honeymoon. Maybe deep down she feared anything meaning happiness also meant impending loss.

  “So, the entire executive team will be present at the wedding?”

  “Yes.” Valerie had already mulled over the logistics. She and August spoke at length concerning the dangers. Teresa’s statement immediately shot a red flag in her mind, but she would keep the internal warning to herself for now. Kevin would be present for the wedding in case he was the cause for the bombing. He had too much pride to harm himself.

  Teresa must have realized Valerie didn’t like her questioning statement, because she hurriedly said, “Sorry. I just think if something went wrong, it wouldn’t be a good situation if everyone one important to the region were present. I’m just trying to help. I don’t mean to stress you out.”

  Pushing her screaming apprehension aside, Valerie smiled. “Well, thank you. Shall we?” She kissed Caleb goodbye. “Have fun with Mr. August, okay?” Turning to August, she said, “Call me, please, if anything happens.”

  “We’ll be fine. He’ll help me study for my officiate license, won’t you, bud?”

  Caleb nodded. Valerie waved goodbye to August instead of kissing him. Something about Teresa felt intrusive. The warmth she displayed during her interview was gone. She seemed to watch and observe Valerie more than offer assistance or companionship as Hyka did, but the lack of initiative could be her way of learning. They stepped onto the elevator. Valerie pushed the button for the ground level after seeing Teresa would not. Maybe she was upset about Hyka’s reaction to her.

  “Why didn’t Hyka ask you to be her maid of honor?” Teresa continued with the questions. “Seems like you two are closer than her and your PR person.”

  “Hyka is my assistant,” Valerie stated, slightly annoyed by the personal question and equally uncomfortable by stating Hyka’s subordinate position as justification. Hyka was her best friend. “As the DiaZem and being enormously pregnant, Courtney will stand on my behalf.”

  The elevator jerked to a stop on the third floor, one floor above their destination. Valerie grabbed the side rail for support. The lights failed, sending her into a disorientating darkness.

  “Can I have just one day where you leave me the hell alone?” Valerie screamed.

  “This isn’t my fault,” Teresa said, alarm in her voice.

  “Not you.” Valerie sighed and took a seat. Red emergency lights came on.

  “Don’t you control the power? Or August? Are you two fighting? I think I’m missing something.”

  “No. We should’ve taken the stairs.” Valerie rubbed her forehead to relieve the mounting tension. She had to remain calm. If Lucas intended to hurt her or the baby, he would have dropped the elevator car from the eighth floor.

  “Well, then I guess we have more time to get to know each other.”

  “Yes, tell me about yourself, Teresa.” Valerie had enough of dishing out her personal life.

  “Oh, I meant, I want to learn as much as I can about your day-to-day, so I can be of more help.”

  “Tell me something about you first.”

  “Well, I’m the second youngest of seven girls from Liberal, Kansas. I moved to Denver in 2012 because of a man, of course. He was a manipulative narcissist, terribly abusive. I was basically a prisoner after the Awakening. He said he was waiting for me to turn young like the other Conductors. Phase Two saved me because he was a normal person. After he
died, I moved to the Facility because I had nowhere else to go.”

  “Goodness, Teresa, I’m glad you got out of there. I can see how you find joy in your work outside the Facility.”

  A loud bang came from the door of the elevator. Valerie’s heart jumped with her shoulders, and her stomach seized at the quick movement. A contraction came, not painful, just strong and tight. She wrapped her arm around her belly and used the rail to help herself stand. There was another bang, and a sliver of light blinded her. August threw down the tool he’d used and pried the doors open with his hands. He reached inside and pulled Valerie out, wrapping her in his arms.

  “I’m fine. We’ll take the stairs. I have things to do,” Valerie said, struggling against his embrace as Teresa watched.

  Once both women were out of the elevator, the car dropped nine sub-levels before they heard the crash. August’s jaw tensed, and he held Valerie tighter.

  “I’m fine, August.” She patted his chest to let her go.

  He finally conceded. “I’ll walk you two to Lalit’s.”

  Teresa smiled at August. Valerie carefully watched his reaction. He either didn’t notice the beautiful woman at all or her presence didn’t impress him. Satisfied, Valerie took his arm, Duke and Teresa in tow.

  “Caleb?”

  “With Jack.”

  “I just left. When did he get there?”

  August didn’t answer her. His anger radiated heat, and it permeated her skin. Valerie hated seeing him this way because his anger terrified her.

  Lalit was waiting for them when they arrived.

  “It is unlike you to be late, Madam DiaZem,” she said, bowing to her.

  Valerie bowed in return and smiled.

  “Lock up behind her,” August instructed as he left.

  “What’s gotten into him? Are you in trouble?” Lalit teased.

  “He’s just worried about me. Nothing new.” Under any other circumstances, she would want to pour her stress out and confide in Lalit about Jarrett dropping the elevator and how she never felt safe anywhere anymore. But today, she smiled and dismissed the incident. Maybe Teresa would think such things were normal instead of being scared off by a warring spirit haunting the Facility.

  Lalit saw through Valerie’s nonchalance. She pulled out her tape measure and wrapped her arms behind Valerie. “Who are you?” Lalit did not look at Teresa, just as Hyka had done that morning.

  Teresa stuck out a hand and sweetly announced, “I’m Teresa Sherman. I’m a huge fan of your work, Ms. Lalit.”

  Lalit lifted the girl’s extended arm, took a couple measurements, huffed to herself, and walked away.

  Teresa frowned.

  “Here, you wear this.” Lalit handed Teresa two black dresses already packaged in a clear garment bag.

  Lalit’s short interaction with the temp amused Valerie. She had never seen Lalit treat anyone with such annoyance. She also thought it was a sin to leave Lalit’s boutique without trying anything on.

  “Now, mama, come here.” Lalit gave her a sneaky smile. “You try on three dresses. If you dislike, you may pick whatever you want.”

  “No wedding dresses Lalit!”

  “Yes, wedding dresses child! Just not your wedding. Go now!”

  Lalit closed Valerie behind the curtain of a large dressing room. Three dresses hung from a single large hook, one in front of the other, so the top dress hid the other two. Surrounded by mirrors, Valerie undressed and slid into the first dress, which was dark navy-blue fabric with long sleeves and a straight neckline. The back plunged down to the small of her back, exposing her bra. Valerie, after struggling with the clasp, freed herself of the undergarment and pulled the dress up over the curve of her belly. Once she pulled her arms through, she sat down to catch her breath.

  “Lalit, help,” Valerie laughed. Her daughter crowded her ribs and her lungs, making the fight with the zipper not worth the trouble.

  Lalit pulled the curtain back. “Stand, arms only slightly out.” She pulled the side zipper into place.

  The dress was flattering of Valerie’s figure, flowing over her baby bump and comfortable to move in.

  “I like the blue, but this dress just screams ‘I’m a mom!’” Valerie laughed.

  Lalit did not. “Okay then, lift.” She unzipped, helped pull her arms out of the sleeves, and left her to the next dress.

  The second was gold with sequins all over. The top fabric crossed over her front and wrapped around her waist, just above the baby, and tied in the back. Valerie settled for a slip knot and studied the floor-length dress. The sequins scratched under her arms, and the cut of the front accentuated her full breasts. She reluctantly pulled the curtain back and went to where Teresa waited.

  “This is pretty,” Valerie half smiled.

  “That’s hot,” Teresa said, looking up from a cell phone.

  Lalit rolled her eyes. “You dislike it. Your face tells me so.”

  “It’s too much in this area.” Valerie motioned to her abundant top half.

  “Okay, okay. One and done. I swear I wish I still had gray hairs. I look like a baby; no one thinks I know what I’m doing.”

  Valerie hadn’t noticed the third dress. It was stark white but for some dark green intricate beading.

  “Lalit! This is a wedding dress!”

  “Never mind the color, madam; we’ll fix it before the wedding.”

  The gown was soft with a shallow cowl neckline and long sleeves. The back was sheer, but the beading continued across, and the skirt had a small train with a thicker concentration of the green beading. It covered all the right places and it was easy to move in. Valerie couldn’t hide her smile when she walked out.

  “I don’t like that one,” Teresa said.

  “It’s perfect,” Lalit said, giving the new assistant a sideways look.

  “You don’t think August would want to see her in something a little more sexy? That gold one was on point.”

  “That man loves her so truly. She could wear a burlap sack, and it would take his breath away. You know nothing, girl,” Lalit snarled at her.

  Valerie jumped in before Teresa could respond. “Whatever you choose, Lalit, I trust your judgment, but I might need help to get out.”

  Teresa didn’t even stand to assist; instead, she turned back to her phone. Lalit shooed Valerie back behind the curtain.

  “That one is no good.” Lalit threw a thumb over her shoulder, motioning out of sight to Teresa.

  “It’s only for a week. She’s been through a lot. Like me. I like her.”

  “Listen to your gut, mama. It tells you to protect your babies. That girl is trashy. I don’t like her. She is bad news.”

  “Do you know her? Is she bad?”

  “I have seen her around the Facility but never talked to her. She has a bad aura. Her intentions are not good.”

  “I can’t fire someone for giving you the heebie-jeebies, Lalit. I love you and respect you, but I need the extra help. She’ll be fine. What can she screw up in a week?”

  Lalit didn’t answer but shook her head and left Valerie to dress. She took her time, careful not to wind herself. As she pulled her blouse on, she could feel his watchful eye. Irritated at not knowing if August or Jarrett peeked in on her, she flung back the curtain to find the TV screen in Lalit’s shop had changed from the regular daily Facility announcements to August. With two fingers, he pointed at his eyes and turned them to the camera.

  “You’re such a nerd,” she laughed, relieved.

  “I told you he loves her so.” Lalit shot Teresa another look. “Madam DiaZem, it is always a pleasure to see you, mama. You take care of yourself and those babies. Don’t worry or fuss, I will have these dresses ready and sent up to you.”

  Valerie and Lalit shared a hug and a kiss on each cheek before the seamstress unlocked the boutique door for them to leave. Teresa and Valerie continued into the airport to the security gates where a single man waited at his station for travelers.

  “Bernie?�
� Valerie asked, amused to see the once old ailing man in a younger form.

  “My queen.” He bowed. “Look at me! Thanks to you, the good Doctor Wilkes took out my pacemaker. Now I’m like every Conductor here. Born again by the grace of your power.”

  Teresa walked ahead of Valerie, ignoring the interaction between her and the man guarding the gates of the airport.

  “Excuse me, miss. May I scan your badge, please? You might travel with the DiaZem, but you’re not familiar to me. If you don’t mind?”

  Teresa huffed and flung her badge at the man.

  “Teresa, he’s doing his job like you’re doing yours and I’m doing mine. I am no more important than this man in terms of respect and courtesy. We all have a function here. Without all the positions working together, we wouldn’t have order.”

  Teresa was at a loss for words. Valerie thought she saw a glare before Teresa smiled at Bernie and apologized sweetly. Valerie followed behind her, offering her own badge for scanning.

  “Have a great afternoon, Bernie. It was fantastic to see you.”

  “The pleasure is always mine, my queen.” Bernie bowed again.

  “Have you heard from the florist about the reception decorations?” Valerie asked in an attempt to get Teresa to open up more. “I gave them your number so Hyka wouldn’t find out what I had planned.”

  “Let me check my phone… Oh!” Teresa said suddenly. “I forgot my bag at the boutique. I’ll go back and get it and meet you at the conference room. I’m so sorry, Valerie.”

  “Yes, fine. I’ll see you there.” Valerie knew she would get an earful from August for traveling alone, but there was so much uncomfortable tension between her and Teresa. She welcomed the solitude; it was definitely a rough first day.

  Sure enough, August and Duke waited on the platform when she exited the train. August folded his arms across his chest as he stood.

  “Where’s your assistant?”

  “She left her bag, so I took the train by myself.”

  “He tried to kill you this morning,” August said through clenched teeth.