In the Midst
Page 17
She started trembling all over. There were three people looking for them. There was no escape from this situation. Their luck had finally run out
The robot continued, “The director of the FTD has the highest claim. You must come with me.” The other two machines lowered their weapons and strode toward her. She and Roemell started walking to them, but the head android held up a hand. “Just Miss Leona Poole.”
“He has to come with me,” she said.
“This man is not permitted inside.”
She clenched her teeth. If she entered the city alone, she knew the robots’ next order of business would be to deliver Roemell straight back to Python. “He’s my bodyguard. I won’t be going anywhere without him.” Roemell grunted, clearly not pleased with being just her bodyguard once more.
The robots paused, likely calculating which protocol outweighed the rest. “Bodyguard confirmed. Both of you, come this way.”
Leona grabbed Roemell’s hand, and they went with the trio of bots into one of the gatehouses. At the back of the small building was a large, reinforced metal door. It had a red blinking light which switched to green. One of the robots pulled it open, and another led them through.
They were faced with a narrow, paved lane with a brick wall directly behind it which obscured anything else they might have been able to see. “Wait here,” the android instructed them before passing back through the door.
There was a single bench tucked in a plastic rectangle with a roof. She went ahead and took a seat, and Roemell sat down next to her. On the wall was a security camera trained on them. Their best option was to stay seated and just wait.
A strange, shiny black car pulled up and stopped directly in front of them. The vehicle’s door opened, and a robot got out and announced, “Transport for Miss Leona Poole and bodyguard.” The bot gestured for them to climb in. Leona could see only the shadow of another person already seated inside. The bot continued, “You are now in the custody of Donelle Frisch. If either of you is found without her accompanying you, you will be immediately removed from the capital.”
Leona nodded to show she understood. The name Frisch didn’t sound familiar, and she wondered why this person could have been interested in her. She slid onto the bench seat of the car with Roemell right behind her. As soon as she was inside, and the door was closed, she was able to make out the other person already in the vehicle. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. “Mom?”
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading my novel! Please consider leaving a review to let me and others know what you thought. To keep up to date with my writing and new releases, sign up for my newsletter at join-now.BethMartinBooks.com.
As always, I have to say thank you to my amazing editor, Josiah Davis. With his encouragement and expertise, I’ve been able to publish books I’m proud of.
A big, heartfelt thanks goes out to the Columbia Writers and specifically the members in my Novel in 6 group. Suzanne Forest, Tony Allen, Ed Swing, and Robert O’Neil, you all kept me accountable and motivated throughout the crafting of this novel, even in the summer when I find it hardest to write. Thanks for reading through several segments of this book, keeping a keen eye on what was missing.
As always, I’m so grateful for all the encouragement from my husband. I’m so appreciative of the countless times he’s kept the kids busy so I can get some writing in.
I want to give a sincere thank-you to my parents, who are always supportive of me and my work.
My biggest thanks is to you, my readers. You’re the ones who’ve made my dream of becoming an author come true.
Other novels by
Beth Martin
In the Lurch
Quality DNA
The End of Refuge
At Fault
Mental Contact