22

Chase sparked his systems to search local and federal intel. Why wasn’t the exoself aware of a problem before Switchblade? No indication of trouble. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Noise is what’s wrong,” Switchblade answered.

Chase powered the hearing enhancer. “Sounds like a demolition crew in the museum.”

“You think?” Switchblade hovered over him. “Man, why don’t you just keep that super power stuff on?”

“Because people deserve their privacy down here. I don’t need to listen to everything.”

Amos moved to another computer station. “Chase, is there no information about what could be happening up there?”

“Intel on the museum is sketchy. It’s owned by—”

“Gretel Neroux,” Amos said. “The granddaughter of the artist who painted Blue Sky Field. She’s a supporter. Lives in France. She knows we’re here.”

Chase searched the EU for anything regarding the woman. In a moment he had what he was looking for. “She was arrested.” He walked toward Amos. “She died in prison a week ago.”

Switchblade was right behind him. “Did she squeal?”

“I don’t know. But why else would they be bulldozing the place?” Chase raised his head as the sound grew so loud he didn’t need the hearing enhancer. Mel rushed into the room, along with a slew of residents with panicked expressions.

Amos put his hands over his face, then banged his fist on the metal table. “How are we going to survive if they knock the building down? We’ll be buried alive.”

Windsong joined the crowd, her backpack slung over her shoulder. “I’m out of here. Now,” she said.

“Too late,” Switchblade told her.

Chase pulled the code for secret houses—23-6. No indication that their location had been compromised. The underground branch closest to Gretel Neroux’s address had reported they’d lost an up-top supporter, but no details were given.

He went back in to the EU cyber systems and found the documentation of real property owned in the WR. The museum, upon the death of the owner, would be repurposed by the government. A common practice on both continents. The museum was now owned by the government. By the enemy.

Pulling records from the Federal Building Department, Chase soon found a requisition to turn the abandoned building into a WR office heading a particular branch of an international program for all of the Northeast territory.

“They’re not going to knock it down,” he said. “They’re turning it into a RACE headquarters. They don’t know there’s a bunker underneath them. The artists who made themselves a shelter from the apocalypse did a good job of keeping it quiet.”

Erin wrinkled her brow. “What does that mean, Miss Melody?”

“R-A-C-E. Religions and Cults Eradicated,” Mel answered. “The global organization oversees reprogramming society to phase out all religious belief. Unbelievable. The international headquarters of the Underground Church is now underneath the international organization established to wipe us out.”

Mel lifted her eyes to Chase. And her expression was all business. She hadn’t gotten over whatever it was that made her so mad last night.

“And they have no idea we’re down here?” A voice called out.

“As far as I can tell, they don’t know about us,” he said.

“Son, are they going to block our exit?” his mother asked. “Do you think they’ll find their way into the room with the paintings?”

“If they go exploring, it’s a possibility.”

Amos rose and addressed the people. “No one goes out. No one comes in. We’ll cut back on rations. And everyone, please, be very quiet. Go and tell those who aren’t here with us.”

The people headed out to follow their leader’s instructions. Windsong waited, arms crossed. “I am leaving. If not right this minute, then after dark as planned. The workers will be gone and the drones are still scheduled to do their disappearing act.” She stared at Chase. “Right? None of this alters our plans.”

Chase turned to Amos. “Well?”

The man shook his head and dropped his gaze to the ground. “How much can we endure?” He looked up. “How much?” he yelled. He pulled a chair behind him and sat down.

Chase sat beside him. “Whatever you say, I will do. But I think it’ll be all right.”

With a worn expression and bloodshot eyes, Amos seemed to grin. Just a little. “Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.”

“Let me guess—from the Bible?”

“Don’t you see? God has put our most dangerous enemy right over our heads. And they don’t even know. God will protect us. I know He will. And I know something else.”

“What is it?” Chase asked.

“He has a sense of humor.” Amos smiled.

Chase returned the smile. “So, we’re good to go tonight?”

“I suppose. But you will come back. We need your help now more than ever.”

“The exoself has loaded nearly all of Mel’s programs into the supercomputer. I need to run some tests and then you’ll be all set. The underground is connected worldwide.” Chase put his hand on Amos’s shoulder.

He repeated his demand. “But you will come back.”

“I wouldn’t dream of missing this. It’s a strange world you people have here. And it just got stranger. But for now, this is where I belong.”