“No. Down, Onyx,” Mom said.
Onyx obeyed immediately, hopping down to lie on the floor, giving mom the big-eye.
I sat down. My eyes burned with that grainy and itchy feeling. My parents looked tired, too.
Dad studied me for a moment. “I think it goes without saying that you won't be having quite as much leash in the future. We know there were extenuating circumstances. Garcia said something about Graysheets?” Mom asked.
I went through the whole story. I was so exhausted afterward that my bones ached. I'd never wanted to sleep so badly in my life.
Mom rubbed her eyes. “Well, we can't solve all of this in the middle of the night.”
Dad had his eyes closed, chin resting in the fist of his hand which was balanced on a knee. “Dad?”
He opened his eyes, bloodshot lightning running through them. “Mom's right, but one thing that keeps nagging at me is this EMP phenomena.”
Mom and I both rolled our eyes. Unbelievable! I had nearly been kidnapped, and Dad was dwelling on the electrical snafu.
Mom sighed. “Okay, enlighten us, quickly. What is an EMP?”
“Electromagnetic pulse,” Dad said.
“Like pulse, pulse?” I asked.
“No. Not like our pulse technology, but related. Think on this: what caused everything to stall? The helicopter, everyone's pulses, Garcia's police car?” Turning to Mom, he asked, “How long has it been since our house was compromised?”
Mom thought about it. “A month.”
“That's what we need to address. It's the one puzzle piece that doesn't fit.”
Mom frowned. “Are we safe?”
“For now. I think they'd be fools to attempt to reacquire him anytime soon. Anyway, we can talk about this tomorrow.” He slapped his knees, standing. “Let’s all get some sleep.”
I suffered through a last hug from Mom and Dad.
Onyx and I climbed the steps to my room. As I opened the door, Onyx nudged it aside and jumped up on my bed. He circled to find the perfect dog spot then settled at the foot.
I kicked off my shoes, got undressed, and climbed under the covers.
I was so tired that I was wide awake. It made no sense but that's the way it was; I'd tried to stay awake so long I had gone over the line.
I hung over my bed, digging in my jeans pocket and slid out my pulse. I flopped back on my bead and sent a message to Jade.
Caleb: Just so you know, I love you.
I knew that she was probably asleep, but she'd wake up to my words glowing on her pulse.
It'd be the first thing she saw.
I started to drift off just as Mom came into my room pulling up the covers until they were just under my chin. She hadn't tucked me in for years. I was in the twilight of sleep, just as you're sinking under into unconsciousness but awake enough to be aware.
Her breath was warm on my face as she kissed my forehead, my thoughts ending as sleep pulled me under into dreamless oblivion.
CHAPTER 34
I woke up, feeling as if I'd been in our washing machine on spin cycle for a couple of hours. I squinted at the glowing numbers on my computer monitor. One o'clock!
Onyx crawled up and gave my face a lick. I absently petted his head. I heard Mom downstairs in the kitchen. Surprisingly, I wasn't that hungry. I powered up my pulse and messages came in:.
Jonesy: Pulse-me, zombie-master.
John Terran: We need a plan... like yesterday.
Jade: I love you too.
I tackled the easy messages first.
Caleb: Jonesy, you moron, stop talking about stuff on the pulse!
Jonesy: Okay, don't get your boxers in a twist!
John joined the chat, and we all agreed to meet at the hideaway at three o’clock.
I pulsed Jade next.
Caleb: How's your side?
Jade: It's okay, sore.
My hate for Jade's dad bloomed anew.
Caleb: Is your aunt pissed at me, or can we get together today with the Js?
Jade: No, it was an act. My dumb dad showed up and started hassling her about where I was. I overheard my aunt talking to Garcia on the phone today, Dad’s in jail. He’s in extra trouble for resisting arrest.
We talked a little while longer then pulsed off.
I was still trying to play it a little cool with Jade, but it was getting harder by the day. More and more she was the center of my world, I orbited her.
***
I dismounted as my bike was slowing coming to a jog beside it, the Js already in view by the dump's gate.
“You guys got your bikes too?” I asked.
“Yeah, they were at our houses this morning when we got up,” John said.
“Mine, too. Maybe Wade brought ’em,” I said.
“The other cop?” Jonesy asked.
“Yeah, Gale's partner,” John said.
“He watched our house last night,” I said.
Jonesy whistled. “You must rank pretty high.”
I shook my head. “Nah, you heard Garcia. He wants to bust the Graysheets bad. I think he's just being careful because they've targeted me. But we've got even more problems than government psychos.” I told them what had happened with Jade's dad.
John shook his head. “What a turd.”
“He should be flogged,” Jonesy said.
Jade rode up a few minutes later. After we had the whole got-our-bikes-back conversation again, we hid the bikes and went into the hideout.
“I can't believe your parents let you come,” Jade said. “Aren't they worried?”
“My dad has a plan to relieve some of the pressure and expose them. I shrugged. “Also, I gave up the hideaway.”
Jonesy face-palmed.
John glared at me.
“Look,” I said, “I kinda had to. If it makes ya feel any better, I just said it was somewhere in the dump.”
“It's kinda bad that the cops know about it, too,” John said.
“And Brett and Carson,” Jade added.
“Yeah, what the hell is with Brett?” Jonesy asked. “He got a death-wish?”
Jade lowered her head.
I put a hand under her chin. “This isn't your fault, you know.”
She nodded, a lone tear sliding down her face. “It would be easier on you guys if I wasn't a part of this.”
John said, “Ah, Brett has nothing to do with you.”
“Yeah!” Jonesy said. “He's a wet asshole without help from anyone.”
Jade laughed and the sadness passed.
“Knock-knock!”
We jumped.
“What the hell?” Jonesy said.
Jade said, “It's Tiff and Sophie. I pulsed them to meet us here.”
Jonesy smiled. “Oh, Soph! Great!” He ducked his head. “I mean... I'm glad they're okay.”
Riiiiggghhht.
Tiff and Sophie came first, with Bry bringing up the rear. His face looked really bad.
Jonesy said, “Wow, those gnomes really tore you up!”
Tiff's eyes narrowed on Jonesy.
John gave Jonesy a sour look. “What did your parents say?”
Tiff rolled her eyes with a smirk. “They think he needs anger management help.”
Jonesy barked out a laugh. “Are you kidding?”
“No. Remember, it's Bry's job to get the shit kicked out of him every time we go to a cemetery,” I said.
“Everyone has to do their part,” John said.
Bry laughed. “You guys are okay.”
I filled Bry, Tiff, and Sophie in on the fun at Jade's house last night.
“Sounds like that guy needs to be flogged,” Bry said.
Jonesy threw out his hands. “Great minds think alike.”
They high-fived their mutual awesomeness.
We finished talking then trooped down the tunnel. I stepped out of the freezer last and closed the door.
When I turned around, Brett and Carson were there.
Bry looked around at our expressions. “Wha
t? Did someone die?”
“Nah, but we have history with these two,” Jonesy said.
“Okay, I'm feeling ya.” Bry gave the two a hard look.
Brett asked, “Who's he?”
“My brother,” Tiff said.
Carson and Brett gave Bry a good look, taking in his height and bulk.
“John?” I asked.
“I know,” John responded.
“He your pet Null now, Hart ya homo?” Carson laughed.
“We could exchange insults, Carson,” John said, “but we're kinda busy, so why don't you piss off instead?”
“That works,” Bry said.
Brett peered at Bry. “What happened to your face?”
“Who cares?” Carson said. He turned to me. “I've decided to call a truce.”
I couldn't have been more shocked if he’d pulled a pink elephant out of his butt. The girls burst out laughing. It sounded that ridiculous. Carson glared at us and clenched his fists.
Bry stepped forward.
Carson looked at him and licked his lips nervously.
Coward.
“Don't even think about it.” His battered face somehow made him look more menacing.
Carson stuck out his chin in a show of bravado. I thought like it looked like the sweet spot for a punch. “I was just sayin' that most of us will be at KPH next year, and I thought we could just… avoid each other.”
I thought it over for a moment. I didn’t trust him, but I supposed it was worth a shot. “Okay, I can do that.”
Totally want to anyway.
Everybody else nodded their agreement, but I read doubt in every face.
Brett looked relieved, Carson satisfied.
“See ya,” Carson said, walking off.
Brett cast a glance back at Jade then followed Carson. I didn't like him looking at Jade that way, but it wasn’t the time to make a scene.
Once the pair was out of earshot, Jonesy said, “We need to close that gate from now on. I don't like them skulking around.”
Tiff said, “I trust him about as far as I can throw him.”
“Me too,” Bry said, eyes narrowing on their disappearing figures.
“You don't even know them,” Jade pointed out.
“No, but I know guys like them.”
“Carson's a pyro.” Sophie said.
“Oh... great,” Bry said. “Wait, why didn't he light somebody up? Pyros always have to show off.”
“I was tuned up,” John said.
Bry looked a question at John. “You're the Null? That's right!” he smacked his forehead, then winced. “Last night, you guys were testing that out... good thing John’s on our side.”
John chuckled, then his expression became serious. “We're all just pawns on his chessboard. He's made a move, trying to take us off-guard. Next, he'll strike when we're not expecting it.”
“We'll have to be expecting it then,” I said. I put my arm around Jade.
“Ouch!”
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she said. “It’s just kinda sore.”
“We want to look,” Jonesy said. Wounds fascinated him.
Jade blushed but lifted up her shirt a little. The injury looked markedly worse. The beginning of the bruise extended even further, a rainbow of various shades.
“Definite flogging,” Jonesy said, his fingertips skating over the wound.
Jade lowered her shirt. “He's in jail still. He can't make bail, and Andrea won't pay, either.”
I thought it was great his butt was in a holding cell.
I told the ones who arrived late that my dad had a plan to take the heat off of me.
Bry nodded. “That's good.”
“He's right, Caleb,” Jade said.
“It's not just me,” I said. “It's any of us, all of us...”
“If Kyle can help with an idea, we can maybe have normal lives,” John said.
Bry said, “Be sure and pulse me and Tiff. I want to know what's happening. And for the record, I don't trust that ferret Carson.”
My lips pulled in a grim line. Me neither. “Yeah, I'll let ya know.”
“Hey, Jade,” Sophie said. “Maybe you should go to the doctor.”
Jade shook her head. “Can't. No health insurance.”
I stared at her. “You don't have the chip?”
“No. Those were being done on a day I missed school, around the time when my mom died,” she said softly.
Jonesy said, “It's all right. If it's a busted rib, they can't do jack anyway.”
“Let's get out of here,” I said. “I need to regroup with my parents.”
We all got on our bikes. I stayed in place while I waited for Jade to get on hers. She was moving pretty slowly.
John pulled up beside me.
“Faster,” she said, breathing through the pain. I balanced my right foot in the dirt, the bike seat riding right under my butt and put a hand on the back of Jade's head, showing her with my eyes I was sorry she was hurting.
“I'm sorry I couldn't stop him.”
“It could have been worse, you deflected it.”
“I guess,” I said. She was trying to make me feel better about it.
Not working.
“Caleb?” John asked.
Balancing on my toes I turned to him. “Yeah.” My hand slid away from Jade.
“If Parker said your house was bugged and you guys talked about Garcia, don't the Graysheets know all of that now, too?” he asked.
I had a moment of panic so big I couldn't breathe.
Jade reached out and put her hand on my arm. “It's okay. Wouldn't something bad have happened by now if they knew?”
My heart felt loaded up in my throat, stalled. I couldn’t even speak.
Jonesy said, “Let's just ride to your house and ask your dad. He'll know what to do.”
“You okay now?” John asked.
Jonesy gave me a hard guy-clap on my back. “Caleb's okay, aren't ya?”
I looked at our group, the Js and Jade.
Whatever happened after I got home, I had them.
CHAPTER 35
I dumped my bike on the front lawn and ran for the porch. I rushed through the front door, not bothering to close it.
“What's the problem, Caleb?” Dad asked, rising off the couch. He leaned to the side to look behind me.
Jade and the Js came in. Mom gave me a puzzled look, with more than a dash of anxiety.
I put my index finger to my lips then pointed toward the back deck. My parents nodded.
All of us moved out there.
“What's going on?” Dad asked.
“Remember I told you the Graysheets bugged our house?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we talked about everything last night—Garcia, them, all our ideas. Then this morning, I told you where the hideout was.”
Dad looked relieved. “It's okay, Caleb. When I spoke with Garcia last night, he gave me directions on how to neutralize the bugs, and I answered yes or no. There's no way the Graysheets could have heard. Unless they're telepathic and could understand more than a yes or a no. He made sure I didn’t let on about it in the house. It’s all fixed.”
I let the breath I'd been holding out in a rush.
“How'd you deactivate the bugs?” John asked.
“Garcia figured it would be a pulse-based system interface.”
“Doesn't that flat-line everything in your house? Pulse, lights, everything?” Jade asked.
“Yes, our system has an automatic reset. If all pulse is deactivated, it automatically resets all known devices.”
I got it. “Their stuff wasn't included in the start-up because it didn't register.”
Dad nodded.
“Nice,” Jonesy said.
“They'll know when they can't hear us anymore,” I said.
“It's temporary, putting the kibosh on their surveillance, which brings me to a new point,” Dad said.
Here we go.
“I thi
nk we should go to that journalist who worked on those articles about Parker—Tim Anderson.”
“Why? What can he do for us?” I asked.
“He can make them hesitate,” Mom said.
“You mean from taking me again?”
“Taking anyone, Caleb. It's bigger than just you. Everyone who is a five-point should not have to live under the threat of loss of liberty. Your safety is paramount. If we visit Anderson, he exposes them, keeping the Graysheets planning their next strategy rather than executing.”
“Let's lift their skirt and make them worry about their panties,” Jonesy said.
Mom and Jade looked at him.
“What? That's like a perfect… um…”
“Analogy,” John said.
“Humph!” Mom commented.
Dad was making the I'm-not-going-to-smile face that gave his mouth a strange, crooked look. “I've already contacted him, and he’s meeting us at six.”
I was starving. Even with Jade as a constant distraction, I needed to fill the hole. I looked at Mom.
“Those pancakes all gone?” she guessed.
“Mine are!” Jonesy said, sensing food was close.
“You didn't have pancakes,” I said, suspicious.
Jonesy discounted my comment with a wave of his hand. “Doesn't matter, I haven't eaten in hours.” He moaned dramatically, clutching his stomach.
Mom grinned. “We have some leftover pizza.”
John asked, “Is there enough?”
“Always.”
As we devoured the pizza, we talked about Anderson. We decided that all of us going would give more credit to the story.
“The point is,” Dad said between bites, “the kids' presence may lend a degree of validity that would otherwise not be there. We'd go there and look like hysterical parents bent on some anti-government zealotry.”
“But you're not hysterical,” I said mid-bite.
“Yeah, Caleb,” Jonesy said. “There's a ton of nut jobs out there, waiting to crack.”
“You're on it today, Jonesy,” John said.
“Every day, pal.” Jonesy winked.
Jade rolled her eyes, and we all laughed.
***
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer office was at Kent Station in the valley. Dad easily found a parking spot, completely unheard of in our city of two hundred thousand. We all got out of the car. The Js started to sprint ahead to the door.
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