A fire broke out and we were forced to leave DC. Our group is traveling in a caravan to Washington State, to the general’s home city. A radio broadcast has been set up, urging other survivors to meet us there.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
The plane ride was a new experience for Andrew. The sensation of flight was so different when there were windows to view the skies. He sat in the back with the other bodyguards, while Mia and Madame Martineau were closer to the front. Albin sat in the middle, as if trapped between two stations. He was posing as Madame Martineau’s escort for the event.
“I’ve never been in a plane before,” Carter said.
“We flew out here,” Zack said.
“It wasn’t like this,” Carter responded.
“You were in a helicopter once,” Andrew said.
“That didn’t end so well,” Carter said.
Andrew had been too busy this past week to notice Carter’s moods, and apparently Carter had been too busy to remember that he was mad about something. Andrew had even forgotten about Carter’s insane proclamation that his dad was still alive. Last night Carter had been in good spirits and Andrew hoped that would continue. It made things easier.
Things were good between Andrew and Mia too. After he’d promised not to keep her in the dark any longer she seemed more at ease around him. It was hard not to sit next to her now, but in the event the pilot or one of his staff walked around the positions needed to look legit.
“Is there any word from Affinity?” Andrew asked. “Is the grand commander wearing the camera pin?”
“He’s wearing it,” Zack said. “But he hasn’t gone to the server yet, so no password. We’re confident he will. There are still more than two weeks.”
Two weeks. It wasn’t that much time but it felt like an eternity. Andrew closed his eyes. In two weeks the whole world could change. He didn’t care about that as much as he cared about his personal world changing. Mia would have more time for them. They could be a couple, out in the open. As soon as the Registry was destroyed the group would retreat back to Affinity headquarters in Central America. Andrew knew there would be more missions, but Mia wouldn’t be as crucial a part. The two of them could start their lives together.
“Then what?” Carter asked.
“Who knows?” Zack asked. “Peace, hopefully.”
Andrew scoffed. Peace was more of an idea than a plausible reality.
“You find that hard to believe?” Zack asked.
Andrew did not want to explain his theories on the world. He hadn’t meant to make his disapproval audible.
“Everything is random,” Andrew said. “I wouldn’t be here if Mia hadn’t tricked me into helping her in the first place. You wouldn’t be here if Mia hadn’t stumbled upon your website.”
“We have more control than you think,” Zack said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Mia is important,” Zack said. “Too important to leave to chance.”
Carter unbuckled his seat belt. Andrew thought he looked ill.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” Carter said.
Carter walked away before Andrew or Zack could comment.
“That kid has to get over Mia picking you over him,” Zack said.
Andrew didn’t care about that at the moment. And he didn’t think that was what was bothering Carter.
“Answer the question,” he said. “How was it not by chance Mia contacted Affinity?”
Zack fidgeted in his seat. Andrew glared at the man, not ready to let him off the hook.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” Zack said.
“Well you did, so finish your thought,” Andrew replied.
“Any person Mia tried to reach out to would have led to us,” Zack said. “She clicked on a link for a vacation, but that computer was wired for Affinity’s interception.”
Everything was staged. Andrew had been lied to. Mia had been lied to. It didn’t make sense.
“How could you do that?”
“We have lots of contacts inside America, including Roderick Rowe. We were the ones who found out Mia was in Saint Louis. We instructed him to pick her up.”
“Does Carter know?”
“No,” Zack said. “It’s for the best that you keep this between the two of us.”
“Did you know about the militia?” Andrew asked.
He felt his rage starting to bubble. His fists clenched and he wanted to knock Zack in the side of the head. The man finally returned Andrew’s gaze.
“I promise you we did not,” Zack said. “As far as Affinity was aware all three of you died with Roderick Rowe before crossing the border. We were shocked when you arrived.”
“Why didn’t you tell us the truth then?”
“Look, we don’t have time for this. Everything is going according to plan. I need you to keep it that way. If you let Mia know, or Carter know, it could ruin everything we’ve been working toward.”
“They deserve the truth.”
“And you can tell them,” Zack said. “Once we’re all safely back in Affinity. We had our reasons for keeping you in the dark. But if you tell Mia about this it will only upset her. There’s a lot riding on her shoulders. Do you want to cause her any more worry?”
Andrew looked toward the front of the plane. He could see Mia talking with Madame Martineau. He heard her laugh. She was finding some comfort and Andrew wouldn’t be the one to take it away. He thought of the promise he’d made to Mia: no more secrets. He told himself keeping this from her wasn’t a secret. He was only delaying the truth, not lying.
Carter sat back down and buckled his seat belt. Andrew could feel Zack’s eyes on him, waiting for confirmation. Andrew looked down at his own clenched fist; the knuckles had turned white. He forced his palm open and let his hand relax. He wasn’t that person anymore. Andrew wasn’t a fighter. He was a protector. Keeping this secret from Mia was necessary at the moment. He looked toward Zack and gave him a slow nod, which the blond man returned.
Andrew’s attention remained on Mia the rest of the flight. He promised himself that as soon as the Registry was destroyed he would get all the answers he needed and tell Mia everything.