LAMONT KNEW THAT in a perimeter search, the main entrance often got the least attention. So he and Maddy didn’t bother with secret exits. They simply walked briskly out the front door, invisible to the milling guards in the foyer. Mostly invisible. The effect was not perfect. Neither of them was close to full strength. But in the chaos, it was enough.
Two minutes later, sitting on top of Rat Rock at the edge of the park, they were both fully visible and completely exhausted. At this time of night, the forbidding park was actually the safest place to be—for them, anyway. No FR cameras. No patrols. And they doubted that the presidential guards would roam this far from the mansion.
They sat for a few minutes, side by side, not saying anything. Just breathing hard. Relieved to be breathing at all. They hadn’t found Jessica, but at least they hadn’t ended up captured, or dead. Lamont rubbed his wrists, still red and sore. Maddy stared into the dark foliage. The flicker of faraway barrel fires glowed through the leaves. Her wrists hurt too, from her attacker’s rough tactical gloves. In fact, now that the adrenaline was fading, her whole body was starting to ache.
Lamont spoke first.
“Maddy,” he said, “I’m sorry.”
Maddy stared straight ahead.
“Why?” she replied softly. “We’re alive, aren’t we?”
“It was a careless plan,” said Lamont. “I was arrogant. I should have gone in there by myself. There was no reason to put you in peril. Nothing like that will ever happen again.”
“Yes, it will,” said Maddy. “I’m in this too.”
“No,” said Lamont, “the fight with Khan is my fight, not yours.”
“Not just yours,” said Maddy. “You heard him. He’s planning to wipe an entire class of human beings off the planet! People like my grandmother. People like me.”
Maddy turned her head back toward Fifth Avenue. In the distance, landscape lighting illuminated wrought-iron gates and stately homes.
“Those people with the big houses and fancy lawns? Those are your people. Rich people. They’ll be fine. Meanwhile, everybody I’ve ever known will be gone.”
Lamont didn’t say anything. He just listened.
“Look,” Maddy continued. “I didn’t ask for…whatever it is I’ve turned into. But now it’s part of me. Just like it’s part of you. And you can’t just leave me out. It’s not your decision to make. You’re not my father.”
Lamont dipped his head.
“You’re right,” he said. “I’m not.”
“Besides,” said Maddy, “I obviously still have a lot to learn.” She looked down at the welts on Lamont’s wrists. Lamont exhaled slowly.
“The fireballs?” asked Lamont.
“Yeah,” said Maddy. “Let’s start there.”
“The truth?” said Lamont.
“Please,” said Maddy.
“Apparently I developed some new powers while I was sleeping,” said Lamont, rubbing his wrists. “I guess fireballs are one of them.”