“So what does this have to do with the murders?” I ask.
“Look at the names,” he says. “Case study #1: Roger Wesson, case study #2: Susan Chriswolf, case study #3: Carlos Dominguez.”
“The same order as the victims,” Elliott says.
“You should have told the police.” I say.
“I left an anonymous tip after the first two. Clearly did Carlos Dominguez a lot of good.”
“So how does the Catalyst have this order?” Elliott asks.
“Good question. The only people who would have had official access to this study were Jason, me, David and Maddock.”
“Who’s David?” I ask.
Dad sighs. “Another GEMO scientist. We worked together on the studies.” Dad turns his head back towards the computer screen and his eyes narrow.
“Dad, what’s wrong.”
“I blurted out my ability. He’s the only person that knows I’m a Catalyst.”
“Why would you tell someone that?” Elliott asks.
“You don’t understand, it was early in the technology and we were young. No one knew a Catalyst could exist. I was a unique specimen. He was another scientist in GEMO. Someone I could shoot the breeze with after a few beers. After a while, he begged me to zap him and—” Dad stops talking, his eyes growing wide. I want to ask him what happened, but it’s clear from his expression he wouldn’t want to talk about it. “Anyway, he left to join the Naturals colony right before I was kidnapped. I didn’t think he could have anything to do with this, until I realized the names of the victims sounded familiar.”
“So David is the Catalyst?” I ask.
“At first that’s what I thought, or maybe hoped. That David had allied himself with Jason before he died and was setting up murders to appear like the act of a Catalyst. Until I saw our suspect tonight. And he couldn’t look any more different.”
Now I understand why Dad reacted in terror at the house. He had expected to find David, but instead found a complete stranger.
“So who do you think this guy is?” I ask.
“Unfortunately, I think he’s an actual Catalyst.”
“But how did he get access to the files?”
“Very good question. But I imagine it would have to be someone connected with Jason.”
“David?
“Maybe. Or a Basic Brigade member. Who knows what Jason told them.”
My anger at Aaron is only fueled by the idea a Basic Brigade member might be behind these attacks.
Elliott raises an eyebrow. “How could a Basic Brigade member secretly be a Catalyst?”
“Maybe the Basic Brigade member found the Catalyst and they are working together,” Dad says.
“Not sure how he could randomly come across a Catalyst,” I say.
“We can only hope they did,” Dad says. "Jason had years to work on his research. They may have discovered how to predict Catalyst abilities. They could have an entire database of Catalysts.”
Elliott’s face freezes.
“So who’s next on the list?” I ask.
Dad shakes his head. “You aren’t involving yourself in this.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Dad, I can’t help but involve myself in everything.”
Dad flashes me a smile, but then his face becomes serious. “But not this, it’s too dangerous.”
“You’re going to need a Scanner,” I say, “if you’re going to stalk somebody.”
“Besides,” Elliott says, “I can be her bodyguard.”
“My bodyguard?” I ask.
“Would you prefer hired muscle?” he says, winking at me.
“I’ll stick with bodyguard.”
“So who are we following around first?” he asks.
“I can’t let you help me,” Dad says.
“Look, I can track every move you make,” I say. “You might as well tell me and save me the effort of following you around.”
Dad shrugs and then pulls up the name on his laptop.
"You have to be kidding me," I say, reading the words on the screen.
Maddock Steele.
CHAPTER NINE
Elliott grips my hand tightly as we climb up the steps to the courthouse. The stately building’s tall columns and oversized doors make me feel two feet tall. The marble floors echo every footstep through the massive entry rotunda. I hold my breath as I head through the security checkpoint. I know I don’t have anything that isn’t allowed, but this place puts me on edge. The security guard stares coldly at a computer screen, before nodding me through. He watches as I pass, eyes locked on me like a vulture waiting for a wounded animal to drop dead. Elliott’s hand on my arm causes me to jump.
“Sorry,” Elliott says. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
“N-n-no problem,” I say.
“You ok?”
I gesture towards the checkpoint. “Just don’t like going through scanners.”
Elliott nods and leans down to whisper. “Me neither. But they haven’t locked us up as renegade mutants yet.”
I laugh and turn to see Zach and Shelly walking through the checkpoint. Zach wears a Volare jacket, which flaps around curiously before I notice it’s missing buttons. Shelly wears a gloomy black dress.
I wave to them as they approach. “Shelly, you look—”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Shelly says, and turns to Zach with an angry expression. “I look ridiculous. He said you dressed up for a trial.”
Zach rolled his eyes. “I said dress formal, not dress like you’re going to a funeral.”
“And then he shows up in a polo shirt and pants.”
“And a nice jacket,” I say, pointing out his school jacket.
“She wanted me to wear it,” he says.
“Better than just a polo shirt and pants.”
“A jacket with no buttons?” Zach asks, turning to face us. “You don’t get buttons until you qualify for the program. It’s a status thing. Like everything else there.”
“How are things going?” Elliott asks.
Zach grimaces.
“It’s going fine,” Shelly says.
“Well, it’s great to see you,” I say.
“Just glad my break lined up with the trial,” Zach says.
We start walking towards the room where the trial will be held. We enter the chamber, another large room filled with rows of oak chairs leading to a tall podium. It's funny to sit in wooden chairs in an historic courthouse, awaiting the beginning of a trial of an unauthorized mutation. Elliott rubs his hands, now dripping with sweat. I lean over and take one into mine and for a moment, he smiles. Then he glances over my shoulder and I turn to find Zach and Shelly sitting next to me.
"You shouldn't have come here," Elliott says. "You don't want to be associated with me."
“To be honest,” Zach says. “It’s not just you. I’m also here on behalf of The Unsounds Society.”
“Zach, you said you wouldn’t—”
Zach opens up his jacket to show a button, which alternates between "Unsounds Society” and “Sequestered is not free." I wonder now if Shelly had him wear the jacket to cover it up.
"Unsounds society?" I ask.
“You wouldn’t believe what they are hiding,” Zach says. “And the injustice in—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Elliott says.
Zach’s face falls and I want to apologize for Elliott’s behavior, but I worry saying anything more will make it worse. A loud thud signals the opening of large wooden doors at the end of the courtroom. The attorneys enter, followed by Ms. Ford. They take their seats and I notice her lawyer looks barely older than me.
“Must have been assigned him,” Zach whispers. “They always give young inexperienced lawyers these cases.”
I nod.
The trial begins and the prosecution presents their opening statement. Mrs. Ford had no record of an authorized GEMO treatment and now shows Elevated powers. Then it’s time for the defense. The young lawyer states that Mrs.
Ford did not visit an unauthorized GEMO treatment center.
“That’s the best argument?” I ask. “Isn’t there something else he can do?”
“He can’t exactly explain her power, can he?” Zach says.
I want to agree with Zach, but then the lawyer buries himself in his notebook and ignores the trial. "Do you really believe that?"
Zach sighs. His expression tells me he wishes he could.
"I wish she would have hired a more experienced lawyer," I say.
"What's the point?" Elliott asks.
"The point is not to go down without a fight," Zach says .
"She doesn't want to waste her life savings. Or worse, let me inherit a debt."
"Her case could be huge. They have no evidence about who she got the powers from."
"That's what scares me."
The first witness takes the stand. He introduces himself as a doctor who works for the hospital downtown.
“How many cases of GEMO patients have you seen?” the prosecution asks.
“Thousands,” the doctor responds.
“And based on your external observations, how would you compare Mrs. Ford to those patients?”
“She fits the standard model of a Flier.”
“Thank you, no further questions,” the prosecution asks, and sits down.
“Peculiar,” Zach whispers. “No mention of any reports.”
When the judge asks the defense if they have any questions, the young lawyer says no.
“I wish he’d say something,” Zach says. “Ask why they don’t have a report or something.”
“It’s useless though, isn’t it?” Elliott says. “I mean, it’s obvious she’s Elevated and the next witness will reveal she’s not registered.”
And Elliott is right. The next witness who takes the stand works for the GEMO Control Department. She reveals Mrs. Ford is not on the list for GEMO treatment. Once again, the defense lawyer doesn’t ask any questions. Mrs. Ford stares up at the ceiling with a hopeless look on her face.
“I can’t watch this anymore,” Elliott says, stepping out of the room.
I follow him out, and Zach and Shelly walk closely behind me.
“Sorry, Elliott,” Zach says. “It’s just not fair. She’s going to be indicted for certain if he doesn’t do anything.”
“I don’t blame the lawyer. What can he do?” Elliott asks.
“Find a loophole, create some doubt, anything,” Zach says. “If only Mrs. Ford had a better lawyer, this case could be just what we need."
"To do what?"
"To challenge the system, make them consider what they are doing. We've never had a case reach a higher court."
"Who's this we?"
"Unregistered, unsounds, anyone who doesn't fit the government's narrow view of how GEMO radiation should be handled."
"Since when do you care so much?"
"Since it became personal," Zach says, gesturing to Shelly.
"They'll come for her next," Elliott says. "It's only a matter of time."
Zach’s eyes narrow. "And that's why we have to set a precedent now. You can't just lock up someone because—"
"It's a great speech I'm sure, but what you're saying is crazy. Unrestricted Elevated powers would be chaos."
"You're not agreeing she should locked up, are you?" I ask.
"Of course not. But making black list powers legal? Unsounds roaming free?"
Shelly glares at him. "You are saying I should be locked up."
"No, not you, but—"
"Let's get out of here," she says, standing up and dragging Zach out of the hallway.
When we reenter the courtroom, the judge is wrapping up for the day. The trial will continue tomorrow, and at the current rate, it should be finished soon. The judge leaves the room, followed by the lawyers and Ms. Ford. She nods to us as she leaves the room, her face carrying that same sickening expression of defeat.
As we leave the courtroom, I’m still angry with Elliott for how he treated Shelly. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Zach’s crazy to think we should release Unsounds. Remember the chaos before?”
“I don’t see how locking people up and forgetting about them is the answer.”
Elliott shakes his head. “I can’t solve the world’s problems. I can’t!”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “No one is asking you to.”
Elliott buries his face in his hands, and I rub his back. When he emerges, his face is flush red. “What am I supposed to do with my ability, Rose? Hide it? Broadcast it? I feel so much responsibility without any idea of what to do with it.”
I’m taken aback by his comment. I’ve never thought how much of a burden it was to hold such an unusual and powerful ability. All along, I’ve been telling him to keep it hidden, keep it quiet. But to not use his ability is to deny his gift. There has to be something he can do. If only I had some idea of what that was. We reach the car and take our seats inside.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s Dad.
“You in quiet place?” he asks.
I take a deep breath to regain my composure. “Yeah.”
“Put me on speaker then, Elliott needs to hear this.”
I hit the button and we listen together.
“Maddock ran the image of the Catalyst through his database.”
“Ok,” I say. “What did he find?”
“His name is Eric Mentram.”
“Great, he found him.”
“Yes, but there’s a small problem.”
“What’s that?”
Dad’s voice gets lower. “He’s dead.”
Elliott’s eyes grow wide. “Dead? But we saw him.”
“He died in the care of the Emerald Ward,” Dad says. “A few weeks ago.”
“Emerald Ward?” Elliott asks. “He was an Unsound?”
“Yes.”
“What was his ability?” I ask.
“Maddock refuses to tell me. Says that’s classified.”
“So you think he’s faking the data?” I ask.
“Of course he’s faking the data,” Dad says. “Eric is still alive. The question is why.”
“He’s out to get you,” I say. “You represent a threat to his whole system. He won’t be happy until you are locked in a ward again.”
As I say it, everything starts to click into place.
“What if it’s Maddock,” I say.
“What?” Dad asks.
“Maddock hires this Unsound guy to come and murder people, frame it to look like a Catalyst, and make you appear guilty. He had access to the case studies, is one of the few people that knows your powers. What better way to create fear in the public?”
“It makes sense,” Elliott says.
“There is a big problem with your theory,” Dad says.
“What’s that?”
“You’re forgetting the next case study,” Dad says. “Maddock isn’t going to kill himself.”
I sigh. I had forgotten that. “So what’s the plan now?”
“In light of the picture, Maddock doesn’t believe anything I said. He’s going to need protecting.”
Elliott scowls. “I don’t think you should be anywhere near him. You’re too connected.”
“Exactly why I need to stop the Catalyst,” Dad says.
“I agree with Elliott. It’s too much for one person,” I say. “It’s not your responsibility.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Dad says, then promptly hangs up the phone.
Elliott grimaces. “Stubbornness runs in your family, I see.”
I punch him in the arm and he laughs.
As we step towards the car, my mind races from the news. If Maddock isn’t the connection, then it has to have something to do with the Basic Brigade. Abandoning caution, I pull out my phone and text Aaron the picture with the message, “When is the next Basic Brigade meeting?”
I sit back in the car seat. Aaron hasn’t been responding to my texts much lately. There’s a chance he
might not read it at all. But only a moment later, I receive a response:
“Tomorrow night, why do you ask?”
I text Aaron back:
“I want to go.”
***
When Aaron picks me up, he looks confused.
"What changed your mind?" he asks. "I've been wanting you to go for weeks."
I take a deep breath. I hadn't decided just how much to tell Aaron.
He smiles. "Well, it doesn't matter, I'm excited that you have decided to join us."
He pulls the car up to the Home for Basics.
"You meet here?" I ask.
"Yeah," Aaron says. "Jex's scanner is great for weeding people out. That's why we are here early."
Frank greets me at the door. “Glad to see you again!”
When I enter the main room, and it's creepy how little it's changed in the last few months. If I didn't know any better, I would say most of the people hadn't even moved. The only fresh face I see is Lillia in the corner. She plays checkers with an elderly man. I wave as I pass, and she waves back before returning to her game.
“You know my granddaughter, Lillia?” Frank asks.
“A little, she went to my school,” I say.
“Well, you should get to know each other better.” Frank leads me over to the table. “Lillia, this is Rose.”
She sits there quietly.
“She’s a little shy,” says Frank. He clears his throat.
“H-Hello,” she stutters and then giggles. “I’m going to lose this checker match, if you want to watch.”
Her opponent laughs. “I think she loses on purpose.”
“No, you’re just much better than me,” says Lillia. “I’m lousy at checkers.”
I can’t disagree. Based on the board, he has beaten her to a pulp. However, one solid move remains.
“Any advice?” Lillia asks.
I lean over and whisper the move. After a sequence of jumps, Lillia evens the score.
“Thanks,” says Lillia. “Maybe after this game you can teach me?”
Her offer is so sincere that it crushes me to say no. “I’m a little busy.”
“Basic Brigade meeting?”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised she could figure it out so fast. I’m sure she must know what goes on in the back rooms.
Catalyst: (Elevated Saga Book #2) Page 9