by Jan Gangsei
She’d strongly advised that the kid not be allowed to attend prom. But the president had insisted—he wasn’t going to keep his daughter under lock and key, not after everything she’d been through. Besides, there hadn’t been a Cerberus attack since the busboy had started giving up names. And the FBI had the alleged shooter from Kogan Plaza in custody. Despite the student’s continued denials, the ballistics on the gun matched up, and his DNA had been found on the handle. The case was airtight. For all practical purposes, it was just a coincidence that Addie and the president had turned up in the plaza that day.
Except Alvarez didn’t believe in coincidences anymore.
Her earpiece buzzed. It was Agent Devers, stationed out front.
“Speak to me,” Alvarez said.
“Guests are beginning to arrive.”
“Roger that.” Alvarez said. “Positions, people. We’re in play.”
Addie’s limo pulled up to the front entrance of the National Air and Space Museum. The concrete-and-glass building stood silhouetted against the night sky, lights twinkling atop the tall metal spire out front. Dozens of Cabot students gathered on the stairs, chatting and snapping photos. Addie hesitated. She considered tapping the driver on the shoulder and asking him to take her home.
But then she pictured Mackenzie, tiny arms wrapped around her tonight before she left, telling her she was beautiful. She saw her parents, beaming as they took her picture. She even saw Elinor, watching her from the hallway with her arms folded across her chest, an unreadable look on her face.
Addie steeled herself, willing away the tears that were burning the corners of her eyes. She had to see this through to the end. It was the only way to save the people she loved, even if it meant she might destroy them in the process.
Her door swung open. Agent Alvarez stood on the other side.
“You ready?” Addie glanced toward the steps, and up at the top she saw a familiar swing of blue-tipped hair among the crowd forming at the door. She swallowed down the anxiety rising in her throat.
“I’m ready,” she said, and stepped from the limo. Her strapless, wine-colored dress swept to the ground. It was Italian silk with a delicate lace pattern swirling up her bare back. She wore a pink freshwater pearl necklace set that her mother had given her that evening. Alvarez let out a low whistle.
“Look at you,” she said. “That poor boy is going to eat his heart out.”
Addie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Alvarez hadn’t pressed Addie for answers after she had rushed out of Harper’s studio in tears, but given that Addie and Darrow hadn’t spoken since, Alvarez clearly thought they’d broken up. Addie hadn’t bothered to correct that assumption. And even though she’d forgiven Darrow, Addie had let that wall between them stand. It was better that way. For everyone.
Addie gathered the front of her dress in her hands and climbed the steps toward where Harper stood waving. When Addie reached the top, Harper embraced her in a warm hug.
“You look ah-may-zing!” she said. Addie pulled back, running her eyes over Harper’s short, sequined halter dress, topped with a leather biker jacket.
“So do you,” she said. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Inside. Except Darrow. I, um, don’t know if he’s coming tonight.”
“He’s not?” Addie hadn’t expected that. Not after what Darrow had said he’d overheard. But it would make everything easier.
Addie and Harper went inside and hung a right into Gallery 102, the America by Air exhibit. Alvarez followed close behind. Round tables decorated with red-and-gold linens were scattered among the exhibits, surrounded by gilt-backed chairs. A two-story wall of windows overlooked the National Mall, the lit columns of the National Gallery of Art shimmering across the green. Dozen of airplanes hung overhead, suspended by giant cables, and the nose of a 747 jutted out over the dance floor. Addie glanced up at it and shuddered.
They found Keagan, Luke, and Connor staked out at a table beneath an old plane. As the others chatted and laughed, Addie grew more and more aware of the passing seconds. Her palms started to sweat. She pulled her phone from her handbag and checked the time: eight thirty. Three and a half hours until everything changed.…She chewed her lip and put the phone away, catching Keagan staring at her.
“What’s going on?” she said. “Limo turn into a pumpkin at midnight?”
Addie swallowed hard. “Yeah, something like that,” she said. She stood up. “I’m going to have a look around,” she said, waving to the rest of the table. “Be back in a bit.”
Addie walked along the edges of the room, pausing and pretending to check out the exhibits. Just past the dance floor, she climbed a set of stairs, crossing a catwalk to the 747 at the end. A couple other students were in the cockpit, so Addie paused and waited at the door. She glanced over her shoulder and waved at Alvarez, who had followed her, of course, and was lurking at the other end of the catwalk. The other students walked out. Addie slipped inside. Barely breathing, she pulled the camera from her handbag and tucked it on the floor out of sight, beneath the plane’s control panel. Then she hurried back out, nearly colliding with Alvarez.
“Not into planes?” the agent said.
“Too small in there,” Addie said, face pale. “Made me claustrophobic.”
“I can see that.” Alvarez looked at her closely.
“Think I’ll stick with open spaces,” Addie said. She walked past Alvarez and back to the table. She sat down, just as Connor and Harper got up to dance. Luke and Keagan had already wandered off, so she sat by herself, sipping a San Pellegrino soda.
The band struck up another song, something achingly familiar, the opening chords reaching deep into Addie’s memory. She suddenly felt someone’s presence behind her.
“Remember this one?”
Addie swung around and saw Darrow standing there, tall and graceful, in a tux that fit him like a glove. Addie’s voice failed her. She remembered. It was the song she had played over and over in the playroom, back when she’d made Darrow dance with her. She glanced up at him, and realized her mistake the moment she met his eyes. They weren’t angry like she had expected—they were calm and open, like the night when he’d found her in the woods. Like he was just trying to understand.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” she said.
“Changed my mind. Dance with me?”
She found herself standing, and let him take her hand. It fit perfectly in his. Darrow deserved so much more than her. But if she was what he wanted after all of this, the least she could give him was a good-bye. Darrow led her to the dance floor and wrapped his arm around her waist as they swayed to the music. Addie rested her head on his chest, breathing in deeply. This was enough. All she wanted, in this moment, was to rest in his arms; to pretend that she was just another girl at the prom, falling for the perfect guy. She wanted to hold on to the fairy tale, act like the clock wasn’t ever going to strike midnight. Because she knew eventually it would. Then she’d have to face the consequences of her actions. The nose of the 747 jutted overhead, a constant reminder that in a few short hours, Addie would be dead to everyone who cared about her.
Darrow pulled back slightly, looking down at Addie.
“I just wish you could trust me,” he murmured.
“Why?” Addie gazed straight at him. “Why should I trust anyone?”
“Because I trust you. I know you don’t want to do whatever you’re planning tonight.”
Addie started to reply, but her voice caught in her throat.
Suddenly, she was hit by the memory of Darrow’s lips on hers. His back, pressed up against the door to Harper’s studio. His hand, smooth and warm, running along her bare skin.
“You shouldn’t trust me. You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand.” Darrow gripped her tighter around the waist.
“This isn’t real,” Addie whispered.
“It sure feels real to me,” Darrow said. “You, me. Here. Together.”
�
��That’s not what I’m talking about,” Addie said, more forcefully now. “This. None of this is real. None of what is going to happen is real, okay? Just remember that—when I’m gone. None of this was real!”
“What do you mean, gone?” Darrow began.
But Addie had already broken away from Darrow’s grasp, leaving him standing there, bewildered and alone. She ran, eyes clouded with tears, into the bathroom. Alvarez stayed right on her tail, but Addie ignored her, going straight into a stall and closing the door. She sat on the toilet, covering her eyes, and held back sobs, her chest heaving. After a few minutes, there was a light rap on the stall door.
“You okay in there, Songbird?” Alvarez said.
“Yeah, I just need a minute,” Addie answered.
There was a pause and Alvarez started talking again.
“Look, I know I’m not much help when it comes to fashion choices,” she said. “But I’ve been where you are before, crying over some guy in the bathroom.”
Addie didn’t answer.
“And the good news,” Alvarez continued, “is that maybe it sucks now, but it’s not forever, okay?”
Addie grabbed a handful of tissues and wiped her eyes. The phone in her purse buzzed against her thigh. Addie pulled it out with shaking hands and read the message. One by one, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
This wasn’t right…it was too soon. What was going on? She needed more time.
Shakily, Addie stood and opened the door, where Alvarez was waiting.
“Should I call the driver and have him bring you home?” Alvarez said.
“No,” she said. “I’m ready to go back. Just needed a little break.” She splashed some water on her face and returned to the prom, Alvarez following. Addie scanned the room for an out. Connor, Luke, Keagan, and Harper were back at the table. She didn’t spot Darrow anywhere.
Addie walked to her friends and tapped Connor on the shoulder. He put down his drink and turned around.
“Hey,” Addie said. “Want to dance?”
Connor smirked. “Thought you’d never ask,” he said.
There was no time for charm. “Well, I am now.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor, still clutching her handbag.
She checked Christina’s location as Connor grinned at her, his hand on her waist. The agent had moved to the edge of the dance floor and was bobbing her head back and forth to see Addie. Addie spun around and pulled Connor deeper into the crowd.
They finally stopped in the middle of the floor and began dancing. Addie moved closer to Connor, pressing her hips against his.
His eyes widened. “Not bad, Webster.”
“Yeah?” Addie leaned in, her lips at his ear. “You’ll like this even more.…Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“You heard me,” Addie whispered. “Close your eyes. And don’t open them until I say so.”
Agent Alvarez craned her neck, trying to get a better view of Addie. She could see her lanky dance partner, but it was hard to see the girl. She was short—almost as short as Alvarez—and the agent couldn’t see her over all the bobbing heads. They pushed deeper into the swell of students.
Alvarez moved around to the other side of the dance floor. She caught a flicker of burgundy dress, and could just make out the boy’s Converses. A head of long, black hair whipped around. Finally, the song wrapped up and the crowd began to thin. Alvarez could see the boy still there, swaying back and forth. But…
She pushed her way through the students, colliding with Connor.
The boy opened his eyes, stunned.
Addie was gone.
Addie ran as fast as her feet would take her, to the entrance of the IMAX theater on the other side of the building. The first two doors she pulled were locked, but when she reached the third it swung open. Addie slipped inside, closing the door behind her.
“Father?” Addie said into the darkness. “I’m here. Are you taking me home?”
There was no answer. Addie blinked, trying to adjust her eyes to the dim room. Finally, she could make out the large screen straight ahead, the rows of theater seats…and the outline of two heads. Addie’s heart began to pound wildly. What was happening? She made her way down the aisle, trying to control her shaking knees. When she got closer, an involuntary gasp escaped her lips.
Just to her left sat Darrow, still as a stone. Michael sat on his other side, holding a gun to his head.
“Hello, Lilla,” Michael said, turning to face Addie. Darrow began to turn, too, but Michael pushed the gun into his temple.
“Don’t even think about it,” he said.
Darrow froze.
“Michael?” Addie said, trying to tamp down the shock in her voice. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Michael said.
“I don’t know,” Addie said. “I got a message from Father saying something had come up and we needed to move earlier.…”
Michael pulled a thumb drive from his pocket and held it up. Addie’s skin went cold.
“What?” she said. “What does that have to do with—”
“Oh shut up, Lilla,” Michael said. “And quit playing stupid. It doesn’t suit you, you know.”
Addie tried to speak, but her voice seized up.
“We know you gave us the wrong program,” Michael said. “And don’t even try to tell me you didn’t. Father and I tested it. Instead of exploiting the flaws in our system, it fixed them. Clever, I’ll give you that. But I don’t know what you’re trying to pull.”
“I’m not trying to pull anything,” Addie said.
“Fine,” Michael said. He chucked the thumb drive onto the floor. “Then here’s the deal. You give me the real program, or you can say good-bye to your boyfriend here.” He pushed the gun against Darrow’s head again, hard enough this time that it tilted in Addie’s direction. She willed herself to stay calm.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” she said coolly. “Go ahead and shoot him for all I care.”
She stared at Michael, watching out of the corner of her eye as a bead of sweat sprang up on Darrow’s forehead and rolled down his cheek. Michael considered her words for a moment.
“Think you can call my bluff? Really?” he said. “Don’t be a fool. I wasn’t afraid to shoot you that day in Kogan Plaza. I’m not afraid to shoot him now.”
Addie was knocked off-balance. “Wait, that was you?” Tears burned at the edges of Addie’s eyes. Mikey, the boy who had been her brother these last eight years. Her best friend; her only friend; the one she’d always done anything to protect. He had tried to shoot her? “Why?” she stammered.
“You hacked into Father’s computer,” Michael said plainly. “You overstepped your bounds. So Father said you needed to be reminded of your vulnerability. But maybe it would’ve been better if I’d just killed you that day. All you’ve ever done, since the day you came home, is get me in trouble.” His voice faltered.
“That’s not true,” Addie said. “It’s not me. Or you. It’s Father. Don’t you see? He’s always tried to play us off each other. But we don’t have to let him do that anymore.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” Michael said. Addie watched as the gun in his hand began to wobble. Darrow took a deep breath. Addie started talking faster.
“Mikey,” she said, locking eyes with him. “Don’t go back. Let’s get out of here together. Now. I’ll help you, I promise. We have each other. We don’t need Father to protect us.”
Michael took several deep breaths and Addie locked eyes with him. “Please,” she said.
Suddenly his face turned cold. “Forget it, Lilla,” he said. “I trusted you before. And all it did was get me hurt.” He instinctively ran his fingers across his back. “I have the scars to prove it. I’m not nine years old anymore. You can’t make me do what you want for a chocolate bar.”
“I’m not trying to make you do anything,” Addie said. “Just listen—”
“
Stop it,” Michael cut her off. “Father’s not stupid. You don’t think there isn’t a backup plan? If I don’t come back with the program, that entire dance out there, all your friends, will blow sky-high.”
Darrow gasped.
“What?” Addie said, recoiling. “How?”
“You should know,” Michael said with a cold smile. “You’re the one who planted the explosive.”
Addie’s head began to spin. The camera she’d left sitting in the 747. The device she’d been told was just a diversion, a fake bomb that would make it look like she’d been killed when she had actually escaped. Karl had lied to her. Again. Her worst fears were true. She was a pawn. Nothing more.
“Mikey, no…” Addie said. “Please don’t do this. I’m your sister, and I…”
“No, you’re not,” Michael said flatly.
“What?” Addie stammered. “You know? How?”
“The FBI verified your identity using paternal DNA,” he said. “Father hacked in and read the report.”
“Why didn’t he tell me…?” Addie started, knees buckling. Why would Karl tell her? Had he done so, she might not have followed through with his plan. “It doesn’t matter,” she said, blinking back tears. “You’re still my best friend, Mikey.”
“Everything matters,” Michael answered. He grabbed Darrow by the arm and forced him to stand, pressing the barrel of the gun against his side. Keeping his gaze on Addie, Michael pushed Darrow into the aisle and stood beside him, facing her. She took a step back as he held out his free hand. “I’m done talking. Now give me the program,” he said.
“But I can’t. I don’t have it with me,” Addie said, taking another step away and clutching her purse to her chest. Michael’s eyes flitted from Addie’s face to the purse, her fingers wrapped around it in a white-knuckled grip. A small laugh escaped from his lips.
“Sure you don’t,” he said, yanking the purse from her hand. Addie watched as Michael flipped it over, shaking the contents loose. Her phone and a pack of gum fell to the ground.