Aura escorted Harriet to a seat in the lobby, far enough from the front-desk guard that she shouldn’t attract any attention. And out of the line of sight of all four lobby security cameras.
“Are you getting anything?”
Harriet kept her fidgeting hands close to her lap. “Yes. I’ve got the Chronicle wi-fi network. I’m inside the firewall.”
“Excellent. And you can still pick up our communications?”
“No problem.”
“Then take a seat.” Before she departed, she crouched down and whispered. “I know you’re scared, Harriet. And you know what? So am I.”
Harriet’s eyes darted. “You are?’
“Definitely. Quivering in my sneakers. You just can’t see it.”
“But you’re our leader. You always seem so strong.”
“It’s a complete act. I’m dying out here.”
“Really?”
“I’m scared to death. About everything there is to be scared of. Except one thing.”
“And that is?”
“I know you won’t let us down.”
With a suddenness that startled her, Harriet threw both arms around her. She didn’t know such a petite girl could possibly hug so hard.
***
She was halfway to the front desk when she heard the voice.
“Aura?”
The voice was distinctly male. And she knew it well. Because she heard it inside her head all the time. Even when she slept.
“Mark?” Her eyes flew wide—followed by rippling chills. She might have a thing for him, but he was still a member of the TYL establishment. That meant he was part of the team that wanted to lock up—or eliminate—Shines.
He held up his hands. “I’m not going to hurt you. Any of you.”
“Then why are you here?”
He took a few tentative steps forward. “I was worried about you.”
“You work for TYL.”
“I did.”
“No more?”
“They’ve given us all sabbaticals. Till they establish a new facility somewhere.”
“A paid vacation?”
“With some homework assignments.”
“And your assignment was to find me.”
He didn’t deny it. “I wanted to find you anyway. I felt that…we connected. Professionally, I mean. And I was concerned that you might’ve been harmed in the blast.”
“Nope. Miracle, huh?”
His eyes narrowed. “Or…something.”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“I didn’t. But I know you well enough to know you wouldn’t stay in hiding forever. You’re much more likely to confront your opponents head-on. So I kept an eye on the central headquarters of your most vocal opposition.” He paused. “Aura, I want you to come with me. Turn yourself in.”
“You must be insane.” She didn’t want to give him the cold shoulder. But if this took too much time, it would blow their entire plan.
“How long do you think you can stay out on your own? Hiding from the authorities.”
“We’ve done all right so far. We haven’t been caught.”
“I found you.”
She frowned. Good point. “We found about a dozen imprisoned Shines that Reverend Trent kept locked up in his dungeon.”
“What?”
“The police have transported them to hospitals.”
“I haven’t heard anything about this.”
“It’s being hushed up, natch. But it’s true. You know I wouldn’t chainmail you about something this serious. He had a depraved plan to mate with Shines and create some kind of master race. The SSS final solution.”
“I don’t believe—”
“Whether you believe it or not, it’s true. We’re getting to the truth about what’s been happening—on our own. I’m not going with you.”
He took several steps closer. She knew she should stop him. Say something. But she didn’t.
When he finally stopped, he was fewer than six inches away from her. Totally invading her space. But she couldn’t make herself object.
“Aura, do you seriously believe I would ask you to do anything that would hurt you?”
“I—I don’t…think so.”
“If you turn yourself in, I will vouch for you.”
“They’ll put us in some institution.”
“Which will be safer for you than the outside world, at least for the time being.”
“Safer? Do you know what they did to me at TYL? They tortured me.”
“I know you didn’t enjoy the twelve-step meetings, but that’s a bit melodramatic.”
“No, I mean they tortured me.”
“What are you talking about?”
She peered deeply into his beautiful ebony eyes. She wanted to believe. She wanted to think he knew nothing about the dark underbelly of TYL. She wanted to think he was just a well-meaning therapist with a major crush on his weird-haired patient.
But could she?
“There was a lot going on at TYL you didn’t know about,” she said.
“I’ve had reason to suspect as much myself.”
“Maybe it’s just as well. Maybe that’s why you’re still alive and roaming the streets. Coutant is out to get us, and if she thought you knew—”
“Aura, I know Coutant can be kind of a shrew—”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“Aura?” He laid a hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah?’
“Technically, you’re not my patient any more, right?”
She peered into those eyes, stared at those lips. She felt herself teetering forward, as if drawn by his gravitational pull. “Right. Very right.”
“Good.” He placed his hand behind her head and drew it close. When his lips touched hers, the kiss was gentle, tender. Caring. But with each second it became more urgent, desperate, needy. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her whole body to his—
“What the hell is going on here?”
She whirled around.
Tank stood behind them. She could see the other three Shines assembling in the background.
She held up her hands. “It’s nothing, Tank. Promise. Nothing to worry about.”
“We’ve got a spy,” Tank said, broadcasting it across their network.
“He’s not here to hurt us. Tell them, Mark.”
She pivoted around again. Mark was gone.
“I’m going after him,” Tank growled.
“No, don’t.” She grabbed Tank by the arm. She knew she wasn’t strong enough to hold Tank back for long, but she could try. “Stick to the plan.”
“What if he tells people we’re here?”
“He won’t.” She added to herself: I hope.
Twinge joined them. “What’s going on?’
“One of those TYL creeps was here,” Tank said. “And she was macking on him.”
Twinge’s face fell. “No.”
Mnemo arched an eyebrow. “It seems our leader has a few secrets.”
“I don’t,” she said, releasing Tank’s arm.
“You were consorting with the enemy,” Mnemo said.
“I was not. I mean—” She took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together. “He’s not the enemy. He wants to help us.”
“You don’t know that. You’re being stupid because he’s cute.”
“Like no one’s ever done that before,” Twinge muttered.
“We trusted you,” Tank said.
“And you still can. Please. I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have—” She pressed her hand against her forehead. “I don’t believe Mark would ever hurt us. I don’t believe he could.”
“If he tells anyone where we are, sister,” Twinge said, “we’re screwed.”
“He won’t. Let’s get on with the plan.”
They proceeded to the front desk, where Dream had already begun working on the guard. He signed people in and out of the building, issued guest passes, and most importantly, monitored a turnstile. Unless he pushed his little blue button, no one got to the elevators.
“But I made my appointment weeks ago,” Dream said, a tiny catch in her voice, as if she were fighting back tears. “I’ve come all the way from Poughkeepsie. I’m the president of the Poughkeepsie branch of the SSS.”
“I’m vice-president,” Twinge said, batting her eyelashes.
“Really.” The guard’s face was inscrutable. “And you are…?”
“Aura. I’m, mm, secretary-treasurer.”
“And you?” he said, pointing down at Mnemo. “Where do you fit in?”
“I’m the head of the scientific division,” Mnemo said, not missing a beat. “I’ve been at the forefront taking DNA samples. Helping them detect and detain the Shine infestation. We think it’s shameful how the government just lets those Shines run wild. I heard some of them are even…” She twisted her face up. “…mating with human boys. Disgusting.”
“Yeah,” Dream concurred. “As if it weren’t hard enough to find a good guy. Without those freaks stealing them with their weirdo powers.”
The corner of the guard’s lips turned upward. “I can’t imagine you have much trouble finding a date.”
“A date? No. But a guy worth keeping? That’s hard.” Thespian Dream let her eyes water a bit. “If I found a guy who knew how to be a man and still love a woman, I’d hold on and never let go. I would never be untrue or…stand him up at the senior prom.”
The guard’s eyes darted upward.
“I’d treasure him like he deserved to be treasured. I’d let him know he was wanted. Desired. Every day of his life.”
The guard cleared his throat. “Let me check the records one more time.” He grabbed his tablet and poked a few screens. “Oh wow. There you are.” His head tilted. “Didn’t see it a minute ago.” That of course was because Harriet had to insert the false entry first. “Guess I need some more coffee.” He passed out the guest badges and pushed his blue button. “Okay. You’re good to go.”
“Thank you.” She noticed that Dream made sure their hands touched as she took her badge. “I hope we meet again.”
“I’m here every weekday.”
“I’ll watch for you.”
They walked to the elevators together.
They’d made it. She almost couldn’t believe it. Sure, she always acted as if she had no doubts about anything, but in reality…
Doubts didn’t matter now.
They were inside.