The launch of the Registry was a success. Every female generated more of a profit than her listing price. It is not required that this next generation of females live in the capital with their husbands. I do not know how the grand commander will monitor their offspring.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
The laptop wasn’t showing any sign of movement, but Grant’s eyes never tired. He had the outside of his house on the screen. A projection of the interior was displayed on the wall.
“How are you still awake?” Hansen asked.
“Patience,” Grant said. “This is the most exciting night I’ve had in several months.”
“Your former employee told you she wouldn’t be coming,” Hansen said. “There is a chance all of this is pointless.”
“You joined the game late, my friend,” Grant said. “I have gotten to know Amelia quite well. A few things have surprised me, but I can read her now. She is coming. If not tonight then tomorrow night, but she will be here.”
“Do you think she’s going to just appear at your front door?”
“I’ve learned not to underestimate her,” Grant said. “She was clever enough to escape the country with little help, and now she has a terrorist organization behind her. She ran you over. It is in your best interests not to underestimate her either.”
“What will you do if she shows up?” Hansen asked.
“Try my hardest not to kill her on sight,” Grant said. “But that scale keeps tipping.”
“I’d shoot her straight through the eye,” Hansen said.
“I went through that phase,” Grant said. “But now I see a slow death in her future. It’s a shame. She is the closest I will ever come to my equal.”
“For a woman?”
“For a person,” Grant said. “She thinks she’s noble, but she is ruthless like I am. She’s killed several people who stood in her way, has a natural ability to pick up on concepts. She’s a survivor and won’t let anything stop her.”
“How do you figure?”
“She killed her father for one,” Grant said. “Abandoned those who helped her. She only cares about herself.”
“If that were true why wouldn’t she stay hidden? She was already free.”
“Mia has fooled herself long enough,” Grant said. “But she thinks the same way I do. She’s not back here to take down some government conspiracy. She is here to right the wrongs done to her. Mia started with Andrew, then her father, and I’m next.”
“Who is Andrew?”
“He’s a problem,” Grant said. “One of the men I think burned up in that fire at the fake orphanage.”
“I thought you said he got away.”
“If he had don’t you think he would be with her?” Grant asked. “But he was nowhere near our last encounter. I think he’s dead.”
“Then why come for this man?”
“Because,” Grant said, “she doesn’t want him. She wants to come for me. It’s another way for her to justify her actions.”
“I’d hate to prove you wrong,” Hansen said, “but I don’t think she’s coming.”
“I accept your apology,” Grant said.
“I never said I was sor . . .”
Hansen’s voice trailed off when Grant changed the projection on the wall. One of his security cameras had a hit. Running across his land was none other than his wife.
Grant stood up and went toward her projection. He ran his hand down the image of her face.
“You were right,” Hansen said.
“I always am,” Grant said.
“What now?”
“Now we wait and watch,” Grant said.
The cameras switched and Grant got a view of Mia and Alex. He laughed as they tried to pick up a rock and throw it through a window. The glass was unbreakable.