Agent Grobeck cracked an uncanny smile. "It's okay, Miss Cooper. Mr. Candela has been briefed on the Salazar matter. At this time, that case is closed, so there's no need for you to worry about it anymore."
"What do you mean 'closed'?"
"It's not a matter for you to concern yourself with at this time. We've handled it. You did a good job, and Agent Yu is looking forward to working with you to improve your field skills as we prepare your next assignment."
"I don't understand. You found out who killed him? Who was it? Did you get the drive?"
"Miss Cooper," said Agent Grobeck, still smiling. "How have you been feeling since the assignment? Has Agent Yu recommended visiting our staff counselors?"
A chill went through Eve as he spoke, and she peered into his eerie green eyes. Why is he dodging the question? She decided to play along and press a little harder. "I can't stop seeing Salazar's face, the moment he was shot. And I keep worrying. I keep worrying that the shooter might come after me."
"You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Miss Cooper. Trust me."
Her gaze averted, she sniffled. "I haven't been able to sleep well because...I keep thinking about it. How do you know he won't come for me?"
"Trust me. You are safe." He offered a reassuring nod and jotted notes on a Post-it. "I'll be sure to inform Doctor Thomas that you'd like to see a counselor."
"No, I'm fine," she replied, wiping away nonexistent tears. "I don't need that. I'm fine."
"Are you sure? We usually require it after an experience of this nature."
She sniffled once more. "Can I let you know if I want to see a counselor?"
“That’s fine.” He handed her a tissue. “For now, I’ll have Doctor Thomas send you some materials we’ve compiled for trainees who experience trauma during an assignment.”
She took it graciously and pretended to blow her nose. "Thank you."
Silence filled the room as she looked from him to Mr. Candela. She crumpled the tissue in her fist and met Agent Grobeck's gaze. He took it as his cue to speak again and proceeded to offer her another promotion that would include control over course design and a three percent salary increase. A man is dead. I failed my assignment by not getting the drive...and he decides to promote me? This is not normal.
During the entire conversation, she wanted nothing more than to get up and run. She ran through various scenarios in her mind as he spoke. If she took the promotion, she could save enough money to quit at the end of her training. Doing the math in her head, she figured it would be enough to keep her bills paid for at least a few months while she looked for a new job. Maybe Principal Gray would be happy to re-hire her, she thought. I do miss my kids. Or, perhaps, staying for the money wasn’t worth it and she should quit now. After all, who knew what fresh horror might await her on her next assignment?
Once he finished, he leaned forward and smiled. “How does all that sound?”
I already paid the property tax on the house. It’s the main reason I took this damn job. Just quit. Get out of this while you can, Eve.
“We can, of course, negotiate the salary increase if you’d like,” he continued.
With a deep breath, she worked up the nerve to do what she knew needed to be done.
***
"Why would you do that?" AJ yelled.
Eve held the phone away from her face and waited for AJ to stop hollering.
"Is it too late to undo it? To—what do they call it—"
"'Nullify' it?"
"Yeah. That. Is it too late?"
"Probably not, but it doesn't matter. I'm not taking it back, AJ. It was a mistake accepting this job. I'm glad I realized it this early rather than, like, years from now." Eve sipped the latte and sat at the vacant table closest to the window.
"Eve! Come on, think about this for a minute. Are you sure—"
"Look, I've thought about this for a while, ever since I accepted the offer. I knew it didn't feel right, but I was desperate and wanted it to work out."
AJ groaned. "Are you at home? I'm coming over there. We need to talk about this."
"We're talking about it right now."
"You know what I mean."
"I'll be home in a couple of hours. But I'm telling you upfront you're wasting your time. And anyway, why do you care so much? We're still going to hang out, so what's the big deal?"
AJ fell silent.
"What's the big deal?"
"I feel like you're making this decision too fast. You could've at least waited until the new promotions took effect, see how you like it and all. But to announce your resignation not even a minute after the man gave you two more promotions? Come on."
"AJ—"
"And you're good at what you do at SPI."
"Well, I'll be good at the next thing, hopefully. At least all my bills are paid up. I've already submitted new CPS applications. I don't know, though, I may have to drive rideshare or sell homemade jewelry in the meantime to keep up with bills until I land a job. You know I make earrings and necklaces, right? Or maybe I never told you that."
"Eve, listen to yourself."
"I'm not worried about it. This all happened for a reason, and I think I'm going to end up right where I'm supposed to be."
"Stop. Just listen. I think you should give it a little bit longer. I don't get why you feel such an urgent need to quit out of the blue. What happened on your assignment...you knew something like that was possible. It’s not like they didn’t warn us. Why are you reacting like this?"
Eve closed her eyes briefly. But as soon as she saw Salazar's face, she opened her eyes, inhaled, and took another sip of the latte. Her voice was sterner when she spoke again. "I know what I'm doing, all right? Drop it." Before AJ could respond, Eve continued, "Look, that's only half the reason I called you anyway. The other reason is I'm having a post-Thanksgiving party at my house on Saturday. Just a few people—Zoey and Gabe, and a couple of history teachers I worked with before SPI. We'll be playing card games and drinking. I wanted to invite you."
"I guess I can't talk you out of this, can I?"
"No."
"And you're not going to tell me your real reason for quitting, are you?"
"No."
"But it definitely has something to do with Agent Grobeck and Agent Yu's warning about him, doesn't it? What did he say when you told him you were resigning?"
“He tried to get me to reconsider. He gave a whole speech about national security; you know the typical boilerplate stuff. It didn’t work,” Eve replied. She paused as Agent Grobeck’s disappointed face and ominous words rang in her mind. “Miss Cooper,” he’d said, his cold green eyes boring into her, “I don’t think you’re considering the repercussions of this decision.” She couldn’t explain why, but she’d had a distinct feeling he was hinting at something worse than the financial repercussions of being jobless.
“What about Agent Yu? Surely she tried to talk you out of it, right?”
Eve rolled her eyes. "Interestingly, she hasn’t said a word to me about it. Look, are you going to come on Saturday or not?"
Sighing, AJ replied, "Sure. I'll be there."
When she ended the call a minute later, Eve pulled out her laptop. Try as she might, she struggled to shake off the image of Salazar’s body. Maybe I should’ve taken that offer to see a counselor. For the first time, she wished her abilities included time travel so that she could undo the events of that day and erase the memory of Salazar's terrified face.
Focus, Eve. Focus.
After finishing off the lukewarm latte and emailing Principal Gray, she typed into the search bar on the computer screen and brought up the City of Chicago's job applicant portal.
***
Eve spread out at her kitchen table, drinking IPAs, listening to Ray Charles, and submitting online applications for teaching positions at CPS. After two hours, she was already feeling loopy from the beer and increasingly gloomy about her job prospects. She'd submitted dozens of applications to Chicago Public
Schools, yet she knew it was all a shot in the dark. That was how this game went—apply to dozens of jobs in the hopes of getting one interview that still might not turn into a job offer. Few things crushed the ego into mush faster than the process of job hunting. If she were lucky, Principal Gray would respond to the email and welcome her back. Maybe she could even ask for a higher salary. But she dreaded having to explain why she'd impulsively quit teaching to take a job offer that she knew was too good to be true from the beginning.
She rubbed her temples as she stared at the screen. But, after five minutes of blank staring, she glanced at the cell phone next to her. At once, she picked up the phone and video-called Zoey, steadying the phone's camera so that she was looking directly at the viewfinder. "Hey," said Eve, blearily when Zoey's face appeared on the screen.
"Hey, you. What's up?"
"Just, you know, job hunting," said Eve, turning her phone's camera to show Zoey the laptop screen.
"Wait. What? When did you make this decision?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later. But, anyway, I'm—I was thinking about you. You busy?"
"No."
"Do you want to come over? You can bring Gabe, unless you want me all to yourself tonight."
"Eve, have you been drinking?"
Eve giggled. "Just a few beers. But, yeah, I'm not drunk."
"Which means you definitely are drunk, lightweight," said Zoey, laughing. "I can come over. But, first, I need you to cut yourself off. No more beer for you tonight."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'm serious. I don't want to be cleaning up vomit when I get over there."
Grinning, Eve parodied a salute. "Sure thing, captain."
"Give me twenty minutes, silly. Love you."
"Love you, too."
When the call ended, the phone slipped from Eve's hand and hit the floor. She got on her knees to inspect the phone and was relieved to find it hadn't cracked.
As she prepared to stand again, she realized the floor was the place to be at the moment. She relaxed and exhaled. Lying on the hardwood floor of her hallway between the kitchen table and living room, a stupid smile settled on her face, and her head spun from booze. While staring at the ceiling, Eve saw the last couple of months of her life, from teaching at the school and tendering her resignation with the principal to her first day at SPI and the night she told Zoey about her ability.
The phone vibrated in her hand. "Hello?"
"Forgot to ask," said Zoey, "Do you want me to stop and pick up anything to eat?"
"No. I already ate. I just want you."
"You flirt." Zoey laughed. "I'll see you soon."
Eve looked at the window, at the bare tree branches visible through the sheer curtains. Everything's going to be fine. She pocketed the phone and closed her eyes. In the darkness, she saw only Zoey.
***
Eve picked at her nails and glanced at her peers around the room. They were gazing at Agent Yu, who had been leaning against the desk as she explained the importance of protecting the agency's relationship with a multinational company that specialized in intelligence research and ‘disaster preparedness’.
Eve stifled a yawn and glimpsed the wall clock. Oh, get me out of here. Why does this day feel so long? She’d promised herself she’d finish out the week so that she could say goodbye to her peers and make sure she had their contact information. Leaving SPI didn’t have to mean losing potential friendships with others like her.
As she looked around the room, she cursed herself for not making an effort to get to know anyone other than AJ.
"Yes, Mr. Kim?" said Agent Yu.
"Are you talking about FordTech International, the weapons contractor? The firm that Senator Abbott from Virginia used to sit on the board of before he was elected?" asked Samuel Kim. Eve noted a hint of disapproval in his tone.
"It's an intelligence and security firm, not a weapons contractor," replied Agent Yu. "But, yes, that's the firm. Senator Abbott resigned from his position to avoid a conflict of interest once elected."
Samuel Kim folded his arms across his chest.
"Mr. Kim, from your expression, it seems like this relationship bothers you."
He didn't respond beyond a barely audible grunt.
You don't trust this shit either, do you?
Looking as though something had startled him, he turned and stared at Eve.
Eve's eyes widened when she heard a voice in her head. His voice. "Did you say something?" she'd heard him say, yet his lips hadn't moved. Okay, it's just the hangover talking. She smiled at him, feigning nonchalance. I have to stop at two beers from now on.
"Why are her lips not moving?" came his voice again.
His voice was loud to her ears but, strangely, not drawing anyone else's attention. Indeed, why weren't his lips moving either? Wait...can you hear me right now, Sam?
He nodded.
Eve's mouth hung open. Can—can you hear anyone else?
He shook his head.
Has this ever happened to you before? Have you ever done this before?
"No, I don't think so," he said, his voice ringing in her head.
Your voice...it's like surround sound in my head. Not even like you're right next to me. It's louder. Louder and more...complex. Does that make sense?
"Not even a little," Sam replied, his brown eyes fixed on hers.
Who else can communicate like this? Eve looked at AJ sitting across the room. AJ, can you hear me?
AJ jumped and looked around; her eyebrows raised as she met Eve's gaze.
Oh, fuck. I'm doing this? You can hear me?
"Yes, I can," thought AJ, gaping at Eve. "What the hell? You're in my head, Eve. How is it even possible?"
I don't know. I've never...I just did it to Sam by accident somehow.
"How do you know it was you doing it and not Sam?"
Because I'm doing it to you right now, Einstein.
"Oh, right. Forget I asked that. I'm sorry, this is weird. Like I'm not talking, but we're talking. This is crazy."
Agent Yu cleared her throat. "All right. You’re dismissed for today. See you here Monday morning." She closed the laptop, stuffed it inside the briefcase, and hurried to Eve. “I wanted to catch you before you leave. I know I haven’t said anything about your resignation.”
Eve nodded.
“Thank you for your service here. Take care of yourself,” she said after a pause and extended her hand.
When Eve shook her hand, she felt a piece a paper. Before she could respond, the agent released her hand and headed for the exit. Eve looked at the piece of paper and read the words on it, two short sentences: I haven’t been able to identify the shooter. I’m sorry.
She couldn’t understand why Agent Yu had tried so much to help her, and she realized she no longer cared. After today, she wouldn’t have to think about SPI anymore.
Smiling at that happy thought, Eve gathered her bag and hurried to AJ and Sam who were whispering to each other and casting furtive glances at everyone else. "Hearing each other’s thoughts? How crazy was that?" she exclaimed in a high-pitched whisper when she reached them.
"On a scale of one to ten with ten being totally nuts, I'd give it a smooth eleven," said AJ.
Sam frowned. "It's creepy, actually."
"I'll say," said Eve, ushering them from the room. Let's grab lunch at the pub next door. I need a drink.
"Same," AJ and Sam responded in unison.
***
A lightness filled Eve when she left SPI after her last class that day. The cold wind beat at her exposed neck, and she pulled her scarf tighter while pulling the winter cap over her ears. As she crossed the street to Zoey and Gabriel's condo, she smiled, thinking about what was next for her. It was strange not to be afraid of uncertainty. She'd spent so much of her life trying to minimize uncertainty and avoid risk. Not having another job lined up before leaving her current job felt like the ultimate leap, one she wouldn't have taken even a month or so ago. Questions about bill
s and the real possibility of becoming homeless would've plagued her and stopped her from resigning so hastily. She didn't know why, but this time she didn't feel any fear. She just felt free. Unencumbered. She was ready, she told herself, for whatever journey lay ahead.
When she opened the door, Zoey pulled her into a fierce hug. "Congratulations, Eve! I can't believe you did it."
She ushered her inside the toasty apartment where Gabriel was busily preparing the dinner table. He beamed at her when she approached and planted a kiss on her cheek. "How you feeling?"
"Amazing." Eve handed her coat, scarf, and hat to Zoey.
"Well, you definitely set a record. I don't think anyone else in this room has quit a job so fast. Cheers to you." He handed her a wine glass. "It's not wine. Zoey found a beer she'd said you'd like."
Eve took a sip. "Hoppy. I like it."
"The food's ready, so you two can go ahead and have a seat." Zoey put a porcelain bowl of mashed potatoes on the table. She rushed to the kitchen and returned with a casserole dish holding steak and asparagus.
"That smells so good," said Eve, taking a seat next to Gabriel.
Zoey removed her apron, hung it on the chair, and sat. "All right. Let's dig in."
"Thank you for this. I know how much you hate cooking, Zoey."
She laughed. "We wanted to celebrate your transition. You've been through a lot lately, and I don't know how you've come through it so well."
"How do you mean?"
She reached for Eve's hand and squeezed it. "I mean, I've never seen you look like you're so at peace with things, like you're willing just to be you. I love it."
Eve flushed, not sure what to say.
"I think we should all take an extended weekend vacation soon. Just to unwind and celebrate the changes ahead. What do you think?" Gabriel asked, looking from Eve to Zoey.
"As long as it's somewhere warm," said Eve, grinning.
Zoey took a bite of steak. "My aunt has a condo in Aruba that she likes to rent out every winter. I can check with her."
"Aruba? Definitely count me in," Eve exclaimed.
They spent the rest of dinner talking about job prospects, the finicky weather, and vacation ideas for January. After dinner and two rounds of drinks, the three of them cleaned up the dining area and kitchen in relative silence. Eve welcomed the quiet, joyful atmosphere. She'd reached a point where she could enjoy their company in total silence, feeling no need to fill the silence with conversation.
Eve and the Faders Page 9
