“What did you do with it?” Omar asked.
“Threw it in a dumpster.”
Omar did his best to hold Carrie and Ben on his lap as Dayle drove toward the storm drain. The kids were still whimpering. At least they didn’t have much farther to travel. It was dark enough in the back that Omar let himself cry for Kendall.
Once Dayle stopped, Mason helped Omar get the kids back in the harnesses. Then they carefully descended into a storm drain that would take them to the Midlands.
They had to go very slowly so they wouldn’t slip and hurt the kids, whose cries were so loud Omar was certain they’d be caught any minute. He almost didn’t care. What was the point, really? Death would win in the end. It would take them all.
Zane had left a truck for them in the Midlands, and once everyone was loaded up, Omar drove it to the cabin. He came upon the building slowly, making sure there were no other vehicles out front. The place looked deserted. He checked his SimTag detector just to be sure, then turned the truck around and backed up to the porch. Then he shut off the truck and got out to open the back doors. By the time he reached them, Mason was already out and knocking on the front door of the cabin, Hazel and Ben in his arms.
Aunt Chipeta opened the door. “They’re here! Oh, Hazel, my sweet baby!” She took her child and started bawling.
Mary pushed out onto the porch, her girth filling the doorway. “Any word from Levi?” Mary’s kids were older, and she was the only mother here without a child to hold.
“When we were in the tunnels, Zane told me they were back,” Omar said. “Hailey and Meghan are fine.”
Mary hugged Aunt Chipeta and squealed. Eliza came running next and claimed Ben. Mukwiv and Tupi carried the Jack’s Peak children into the cabin, and Mason went back to the truck to pick up Carrie, whose mother had been liberated with the other women over forty a few months ago. He handed her to Mary. Omar shut the truck doors.
“Mason.” Aunt Chipeta waved him inside while still holding Hazel. “Come and check on Naomi. She had her baby. It’s a boy!”
Another baby. Mason hurried inside, and the women followed, leaving Omar alone outside. He could hear the tearful reunion from where he stood outside by the truck. He imagined the mothers embracing their children, crying but happy. Such a scene would make a nice painting. He should go and watch. After all, he had helped bring about this great reunion. See? Not everything he did turned into a disaster.
But Kendall was dead. So he stayed outside, vaping and wishing he hadn’t taken Jordan’s gun. He should go inside, find Shay, apologize. And he needed to tell Mason what Kendall had said about the medic woman, but he was tired of doing hard things. For now, he just wanted to stand here in peace and grieve and —
The door flung open and Jemma ran out. “Omar!” She ran down the porch steps. At first he thought she must be glad to see him, but then he noticed her bloodshot eyes. “Rewl took Shaylinn.”
Icy fear dripped through Omar. “Took her where?” How did he even know about the cabin? And what did that mean for the rest of them? Were they safe here?
“He stunned Eliza, then threatened to shoot Aunt Mary and Chipeta if Shaylinn didn’t go with him.”
This was very bad. What did Rewl want with Shay? Or had he done this for Bender? “Did he say where they were going?”
“No. He made her get into the trunk of his car. It was a big black car.”
The ice in Omar’s chest melted into heat. “When was this?”
“About an hour ago.”
Omar needed help and fast. “SimTalk: Zane.”
“Hay-o, peer,” Zane said. “Make it to the cabin yet?”
Omar relayed what Jemma had said about Rewl kidnapping Shay. “Can you track his car?”
“Give me a minute,” Zane said, then he mumbled to someone. “First let me do this for — “ A sigh. “Fine. Omar, Levi wants you to drive the women and kids to my place. He’s very … concerned about everyone’s safety in the cabin. Now let me check on the car. I’ll tap you back.” And the implant went silent.
Move everyone right now? Omar took a deep breath and glanced at Jemma, who had tears in her eyes. “Zane’s trying to track Rewl’s car.” Jemma blurred before him, and Omar realized tears had filled his eyes as well. Would the madness never end?
Jemma’s lips pursed into a scowl, and she slapped the side of his head.
“Ow! What was that for?” Did mothers teach that to their daughters? Because that was exactly how his mother always struck him, right down to the stinging ear.
“For kissing Kendall. What’s the matter with you?”
Oh. “I …” What was the point of trying to explain? “Kendall’s dead.”
Jemma’s anger melded into shock. “What do you … why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true. Because she got shot with Jordan’s gun that Shaylinn took from under his bed to give me so I’d be safe in case enforcers showed up with real guns.” He screamed into his hands then. “It’s my fault. So stupid.”
Tears rolled down Jemma’s cheeks. “I didn’t even realize she hadn’t come back with you. Where’s her baby?”
“He wasn’t there. I have to find him, though. I promised.”
The door opened and Aunt Chipeta stood there wearing Hazel on her back. She must have taken one of the harnesses from Mukwiv or Tupi. “Omar, Jem, would you like something to eat? I’m warming up a casserole.”
And so they went inside, silent, both of them dazed. Omar nearly stepped on Carrie, who was toddling around the kitchen with her thumb in her mouth. Eliza and Mary and several of the babies were missing, likely in one of the rooms. No sign of Mason either, so he must still be talking with Naomi. The Jack’s Peak men were sitting in the living room, Mukwiv on Jordan’s chair, Tupi on the couch, still holding his son. Omar sat beside him. This was where he and Shay had talked together. Where Shay had kissed his cheek when he’d given her the painting.
Where Kendall had kissed him.
Mason walked into the kitchen then, and Jemma greeted him. Omar should tell him about the medic and Renzor, but his SimTalk implant spoke first. “You. Have a. SimTalk tap. From … Zane.”
“Answer.”
“Omar,” Zane said. “I found Rewl’s car. But, peer, he’s parked at Renzor’s place. Champion House.”
Why had he taken her there? Omar cursed. How could they possibly —
“Omar, language!” Aunt Chipeta crouched to cover Carrie’s ears. They were all staring at him: Mason, Jemma, Mukwiv, Tupi …
“Rewl took Shay to Champion House,” Omar said.
“What’s that?” Jemma asked.
“Then let’s go,” Mason said, hands on his hips like this was nothing more difficult than sweeping the carpet. “He’s got Kendall’s baby, and Ciddah’s there too.”
“Wait. What’s that mean?” Jemma asked.
Ciddah the medic. His brother might not be so eager to rescue the woman if he knew she didn’t want to be rescued. “It’s not that easy, Mase. Zane said that place is a fortress.”
“There must be a way,” Mason said.
“Yeah, you’re going to have to give me some time on that,” Zane said in Omar’s ear. “You’d have to be invisible to break into there.”
Omar thought on that word: invisible. “I could create a SimArt design,” he said. “I’d have to get body implants for it to work, but I could make my skin all black or something. Sneak inside. Hide in the shadows?”
“Walls, that’s clever, peer,” Zane said. “I don’t think we have time for you to get that made. But let me check a few things. I’ll also see if I can pick up any enforcer chatter for that location. Maybe I can find out if something is going on there.”
“Get back to me as soon as you can.” And the connection died. Omar let his head fall back against the couch.
Jemma walked over to where he sat and looked down on him. “What is Champion House? Where’s my sister?”
“It’s where Lawten Renzor lives,” Omar said. “It has very
high security.”
This set off Jemma’s tears again, and she walked over and hugged Mason.
“Could we not save this rescue until after we free our women from the harem?” Mukwiv said. “That would give you all more time to make a plan.”
“The harem women are safe for now,” Mason said. “We don’t know what Rewl wants with Shaylinn or what Renzor wants with Ciddah or Kendall’s baby.”
“Why would he have Kendall’s baby there?” Jemma asked, then turned to Omar. “And why would he take Shaylinn?”
“I don’t know.” Omar didn’t know anything. He just wanted to make sure Shay was okay. Then he wanted to visit Skottie and vape the sweet stuff. But there was no point holding back what he did know. “Okay, listen. Levi wants you guys to get in the truck and drive to Zane’s. He doesn’t like that Rewl, and therefore Bender, knows where we are. So you may as well pack up and go while it’s still dark.”
Aunt Chipeta stepped into the archway and handed Mason a bowl of something steamy. “Move tonight?”
“Do you want to lose Hazel again? Yes, move tonight.” Omar felt like a jerk, but there was no point trying to be nice if everyone wanted to argue. “Mason, before she died, Kendall said Ciddah and Renzor were lifers. I’m sorry. I’d still like your help going after Shaylinn, but if you’d rather drive the truck to Zane’s, that would be fine.”
Mason eyes widened and he frowned slightly. “I – I don’t …”
“But Naomi just gave birth,” Aunt Chipeta said.
“She’ll be okay as long as she doesn’t have to walk,” Jemma said. “Did you tell Levi about the baby, Omar? Now that they’re back, Jordan should know.”
“Would anyone else like something to eat?” Aunt Chipeta asked. “Omar? You other men? Forgive me, I don’t know your names.”
“Sorry,” Omar said. “This is Mukwiv and Tupi from Jack’s Peak.”
“Nice to meet you,” Aunt Chipeta said. “Would you like something to eat?”
“Yes, thank you,” Mukwiv said. Tupi nodded.
“Omar?” Aunt Chipeta said.
“No, thanks.” Omar didn’t think he could keep anything down.
Aunt Chipeta passed out bowls of noodles and beef. Jemma told them about Naomi’s labor and more about Shaylinn’s kidnapping, then she asked Mason to tell which kids he saw at the boarding school.
The question seemed to surprise Mason, like he hadn’t been listening. Omar felt bad for upsetting him with what Kendall had said.
“Um … I saw all the boys. And quite a few mentioned the Owl,” Mason said with a glance at Omar. “You’re a legend with the kids, brother.”
“Really?” The fact that the kids liked the Owl made him smile despite his pain.
“You. Have a. SimTalk tap. From … Zane.”
Omar stood and walked out of the room toward the front door so he could hear Zane better. “Answer.”
“Okay, peer. We’ve got the makings of a plan here. Why don’t you put me on speaker, if you still have your Wyndo watch, that is.”
“Oh, yeah, hold on.” Omar walked back into the living room and tapped “speaker” on the watch. “Listen up, everyone. Zane wants to talk.” When the room quieted, Omar said, “You’re on speaker, Zane.”
“First, I’m supposed to say that everyone not going after Shaylinn needs to pack up and move down here. Also, Levi says Jemma is not to go after Shaylinn.”
Jemma scoffed and folded her arms. “Tell Levi that I said — ”
“That Naomi had the baby,” Omar said, hoping to prevent a fight. “It’s a boy, and they’re both fine.” Right? He looked to Jemma, who nodded, though she was still scowling.
“I’ll do that,” Zane said. “Now, here’s what I learned. There’s a big enforcer bust scheduled for six this morning at Champion House. Several teams have already been deployed. They’re armed with dual-action pistols.”
Omar looked at Mason. They both knew what that meant: guns that could both stun and kill.
“You think they’re going to bust Lawten for something?” Omar asked. “Can they do that? Isn’t that like the sheriff arresting the president?”
“The enforcer general runs the enforcers but also heads investigations to protect the Safe Lands. If he found the right dirt on Renzor, he could arrest him,” Zane said. “It’s pretty intriguing. As I see it, you have two options: Go in now, or wait until it’s over and see where they take Shaylinn, then plan to get her from there. My guess is they’ll take her back to the harem, and that’s our next target anyway.”
“Yes,” Mukwiv said. “Do not risk exposure and capture when we could take more time and make a safe rescue of all the women.”
“But they’re going in with real guns,” Mason said. “Anyone can get killed in the cross fire. I saw it happen in Glenrock. And I don’t trust Otley not to shoot Shaylinn just to make us mad.”
“Otley’s a psychotic maggot,” Omar said. “I’m not leaving her there, knowing he’s involved.”
“I agree,” Jemma said.
“Do you have any way of helping us, Zane?” Omar asked.
“I had nothing until you suggested the SimArt and my dad reminded me of TRO.”
“What’s that?” Omar asked.
“Hold on,” Zane said. “Ruston is tapping in.”
“Omar, you hear me?” Ruston asked.
“Yeah, we hear you. Go ahead.”
“The Technology Research Organization was originally called Technology Research Teams. It was founded just after the Great Pandemic. Its job was to go out into the world and rescue technology. If the Safe Lands were to keep moving forward, they needed to learn how to create things. Teams were sent out on assignment to bring back the knowledge of creating everything from industrial machines to pharmaceuticals.”
“That’s how the Safe Lands were able to keep so much technology from the Old world?” Mason asked.
“Yes. And to keep creating new technologies. Over time, there was no more need to rescue Old technology, and the Safe Lands changed TRT to TRO. Now they work on new inventions.”
“And this will help us rescue Shay?” Omar asked.
“I know a guy,” Ruston said.
Omar smiled at Mason. Zane and his father were a lot alike.
“He owes me,” Ruston went on, “and a while back he showed me what he was working on. You’ve seen WyndoFlex screen, yeah?”
“Like my watch?” Omar said.
“Exactly. Well, my contact, he’s got a couple full suits of it.”
“Why would anyone want their body to look like a TV?” Jemma asked.
“That’s not the goal,” Ruston said. “If you have a screen on fabric, it can reflect whatever you want it to reflect.”
“It can reflect its surroundings,” Mason said, eyes wide.
“Exactly,” Ruston said. “These suits use cameras to record what’s behind them and project that onto their fronts.”
“You think he’ll let us borrow them?” Omar asked.
“No. But like I said, he owes me a favor. How many in your rescue team?”
Omar took a deep breath and met Mason’s gaze.
“Two,” Mason said.
“Two. Fine. Nash will pick you up in twenty minutes.”
“We’ll be ready.” Omar disconnected from Zane, eager to do something more than sit around feeling useless and guilty and sad. “Finish eating, brother. We’re going to visit Champion House.”
CHAPTER
30
I need to be there,” Jordan said. “Hogs teeth, I should have been there already!”
Levi and Jordan were in the nest with Ruston and Zane. “Just wait, Jordan. Until I figure out what I’m doing. Please.” Levi looked back to Ruston, who’d forbidden anyone to leave until the enforcer chatter on the boarding school escape had died down. “I’m elder of Glenrock. I’m their brother. And I know more about this sort of thing than they do. I should be going with them.”
Ruston stood and stepped into the tunnel. “Come
with me.”
Levi sighed and followed the man out into Zane’s basement.
Ruston gestured at the ratty old couch. “Have a seat.”
Levi didn’t like feeling as though he was about to be manipulated. He sat down.
“A good leader has sense enough to pick good men to do what needs done and enough self-restraint not to meddle,” Ruston said. “Trust your men.”
“And if Mason and Omar were skilled at breaking into fortresses — if I’d assigned them to such a chore — I might trust them with it. But Mason’s a doctor, and Omar is … Omar.”
“Omar has shown himself to be clever and persistent. With Zane’s eyes and my connections, I don’t see why they can’t succeed.”
Maybe. “At least let me and Jordan go help move the women and babies over here.”
“Again, there are two men to help, and the women are also quite capable. There is no reason for you to leave.”
Levi rubbed his eyes. He didn’t like how Ruston was treating him like a prisoner, even if he made sense. “I can’t just sit here and wait.”
“Then don’t. You and I need to make plans on how to divide the children. I can’t do this without you. Only you know your people.”
“I gave you Jemma’s list.” What else did the man want?
“A list of children’s names. I need to know the families so I can place them together. Haven’t they been separated long enough?”
“More than,” Levi said.
“Make a new list while I’m gone.”
Levi stood up. “Wait, where are you going?”
“I can’t get your brothers the help they need without going out. I’ll be back long before they start their mission. Then I’ll want to see your list.”
“Take Jordan, then. Drop him at the cabin when you pick up Mason and Omar. He’s going to drive us all crazy if you don’t.”
“Agreed. I will have him go with Nash.”
“And what will I do while my brothers risk their lives?”
“You could sleep. It is the middle of the night. Or you can sit with Zane and watch your brothers. We’ll be able to see most everything on the cameras.”
That was some consolation. “Then that’s where I want to be.”
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