by C. C. Bolick
“I wasn’t worried.” I pulled away from him. “What can we do with your free day?”
Had I only imagined the intensity in his voice? With the distance between us, Travis became the cool calculating agent that drove us out of Florida. “I’ve got a special trip planned.”
* * * * *
I stared at the car as we waited. Travis gripped the umbrella shielding us from rain that poured one moment and faded to a light drizzle the next. It was as if the sky couldn’t decide if the small town of Wynder needed more rain or less.
Water seeped into the mesh top of my shoes. Travis didn’t seem to notice with his thick black shoes. Maybe I’d get an upgrade if I did more field assignments for the agency. I looked forward to proving myself to the other agents as long as it didn’t mean seeing Louis.
“Are you sure this is her car?” I asked.
“Phoebe was your friend. Aren’t you sure?”
“Just wanted to know if you remembered.”
“I don’t need to remember,” he said. “I have pictures of everyone who’s talked to you in the last six months.”
“You must have found my life interesting to take that many pictures.”
“Always.”
Was Travis trying to be charming or get me to shut up? “What time is it?”
“Two minutes later than the last time you asked.”
“School should be over by now.”
Travis checked his watch. “Five more minutes. Are you nervous?”
“No. Yes. Maybe. What if she doesn’t want to see me?”
“You were best friends. She’ll want to see you.”
Since we’d arrived in the parking lot, not one car had ventured down the row for senior parking and spotted us. Busses had arrived and formed a line along the front of the school.
“I hope this doesn’t get you in trouble,” I said. “We still have time to leave before anyone sees us.”
“Don’t worry about me getting in trouble. Worry about yourself.”
I groaned. “I left the base again. This is one more chance for Dad to find out and ground me indefinitely.”
“What did he say about the hangover?”
Water soaked through to my socks. I wiggled my toes in the wet shoes. “Nothing.”
“Nothing at all?”
“He told me to eat next time.”
“Good advice. Did he threaten to ground you?”
“No. I think he’s using some kind of reverse psychology.”
“Maybe he’s been spending too much time with Dr. Greene.”
Rain began to pound the umbrella. “I can’t imagine what Dr. Greene will say if he finds out I came back here. He’ll probably psychoanalyze my need for acceptance.”
“Maybe you should get a degree in psychology instead of engineering.”
I punched him in the side. “This rain matches my mood. Too bad you can’t teleport fast enough to miss the rain.”
“And miss sharing this umbrella with you? No way.”
Okay, maybe he was trying to be charming. Before I could tease him more, a group of students rushed through the rain. Phoebe cut through the row of cars and ran to her car. My chest tightened from seeing her face. She held her backpack over her head. Beside her ran Joey, the guy she’d had a crush on for years.
“Go,” Travis whispered. When I didn’t move, he pushed me out from under the umbrella. “This is your chance.”
Still, I couldn’t move. Phoebe opened the driver’s door and looked over the car at Joey. He laughed and opened his door. They stared at each other as students climbed in their vehicles and backed out of their parking spots.
Finally, Phoebe burst out laughing and screamed, “You won.” She dropped into her seat and so did Joey. Their doors slammed at the same time.
Travis and I stood in silence as Phoebe backed her car out and drove away.
“We used to play that game—who could stand the rain longest. She and Joey looked happy.”
“We can follow them,” Travis said.
“How? You’ve got to know where they’re going if you want to teleport there.”
He reached for my hand and pulled me back under the umbrella. “I’m sorry this didn’t work out.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad you brought me to see Phoebe. Maybe you’re not as bad of an influence as everyone keeps saying.”
Travis laughed and teleported me back to the base.
* * * * *
At four o’clock, I met with the doctors for ten minutes each. My assignment was to rate each of their bedside manners based on a short survey, which turned out to be six pages long. Most of the questions were worded as if compiled by a computer.
The assignments from my tutor were less aggravating than filling out this form, and I had to do it five times. Instead of a yes or no, each question came with a scale from one to ten. Some questions used a word like ‘best’ and some used ‘worst.’ Each doctor had to be rated and the final tally would determine who won this round.
Maybe I didn’t want to be an agent after all.
* * * * *
That evening, as Travis walked with me to a restaurant, Sylvia stopped us in the hall. It was one of the few times I’d met her in any of the halls.
“We need to talk,” she said to Travis.
“After dinner,” he replied.
“You haven’t returned my calls.”
Travis shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
She frowned. “Before or after you left the base with Miss Mason?”
I stepped between them. “That wasn’t his fault.”
“Miss Mason, that’s not a place you want to be standing if Agent Payne refuses me again.” She gave him a look that dared him to refuse. “Be in my office in ten minutes.” Without waiting for his reply, she walked away.
“Go ahead, Rena,” Travis said. “I’ll meet you after dinner.”
I nodded and waited for him to disappear around the corner behind her. Then I went back to my room and got the listening device from Skip.
* * * * *
The location of Sylvia’s office was no secret. I’d had the unfortunate luck to visit her office twice during my first week at the base. Even Dad avoided that hall whenever possible.
Her office door was closed when I stepped off the elevator. The other offices along the hall were dark. I checked for cameras at either end of the hall. Convinced no one was watching, I tiptoed to the door, placing one end of the device against the door and leaning my ear against the other.
I jumped back clutching my ear in pain. What did Skip say about adjusting the sound level? I turned the dial on the tube and tried again. This time, I deciphered voices within the rush of sounds. I adjusted the dial and was able to make out words.
“She did this to me,” Travis said. “I can’t touch another person.”
“I can’t help what she did,” Sylvia said. “And I can’t undo the damage. No one had the same level of knowledge for DNA as Francine Lockhart.”
“I want to be normal again.”
“You’ve never been normal. This is about Miss Mason.”
“No, this is about me,” he yelled. “I want to be able to touch another person.”
“Lower your voice,” she said.
“You promised to find a way to help me,” Travis said with resignation.
“Why do you think I’m interviewing doctors to take Francine’s place? It’s a slow process since we’ve got to figure out who will work best with the team.”
“I’ve read some of the reports. Where did you find these people?”
“They’re all self-proclaimed experts in their field. You know it will take someone on the fringe to accept what we do here and become an asset to this agency.”
“Are you sure these people understand DNA?”
“All have studied DNA, but not with the level of technology available at this agency. Once Francine’s successor is chosen, training will begin. Hopefully it won’t take more than a few months for the new rec
ruit to come up to speed.”
“A few months?” he asked with incredulity.
“Your case will be at the top of our agenda,” she said. “What about our friends from the skies? Don’t they have a doctor that can help you?”
“How would I know?”
“I heard you met with Tyler.”
“How did you—”
“You know I hear everything within these walls. Did you think you could have a secret meeting without me knowing?”
“That meeting wasn’t about this agency or my powers or anyone here. It was about finding the truth about my dad.”
“Why meet with them and not tell anyone else?”
“Van offered me a serum to wipe away my powers for forty-eight hours. He seems to think I’ll enjoy it enough to ask for more.”
“I don’t trust Van,” she said.
“I don’t either.”
“What did he ask for?”
“I think he wants me to come to work for their queen. They want my ability to see the future.”
“And you’ve told them no?”
I held my breath at the pause.
“I have no interest in leaving Earth,” he said.
With Travis’s words, I let out the breath and sank to my knees.
“You could learn the truth about your father,” she said.
“They’d probably lie to me just like you’ve been doing all along. You knew he didn’t die. Do you know where he is?”
“I haven’t seen your father in twelve years.”
“That’s not an answer.”
The room was silent for several moments. Finally, Sylvia asked, “How is my grandson?”
“Since you told him to leave the planet? He looks good, actually. I think he’s happy with his new job.”
“Good.”
“That’s all you’ve got to say?”
“That’s all, Agent Payne.”
I stood and ran for the elevator. As the doors slid shut, the click of a door opening almost made my heart stop. I dropped to my knees and the elevator rose. My palms glowed and I fought the fear that made my heart pound.
* * * * *
Travis knocked on my door later that night. He called my name, but I pretended to be asleep. The next morning, I found a note from Dad on top of a stack of assignments from my tutor. He apologized for working late and said Sylvia planned a meeting about the doctors for ten o’clock. So much for hiding in my room all day and getting caught up on my homework.
I dressed in a solid black shirt with a collar and a black pair of jeans. At least I would fit in at the table.
My stomach growled and I checked the time. Forty minutes before the meeting, which should be enough time to grab an early lunch. It would have to be at the grill since they were the fastest. I couldn’t stand to think of Sylvia’s expression if I walked into the meeting late.
Since the time put me between breakfast and lunch, the restaurant was almost empty. The hostess grabbed a menu and led me to a table, but I stopped when I noticed Dr. X at a table by herself.
“Could I sit with you?” I asked.
She looked up and gave a weak smile. “If eating together is legal for Sylvia’s process. I’ve lost track of who I can and cannot talk to around here.”
“At least you got a list of rules. I’m still trying to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing for these interviews.”
“Like the threads,” she said. “Black is my color.”
I laughed. “You’ll fit in great around here.”
A waitress brought a plate with a double cheeseburger and fries. I motioned for her to bring me the same.
“So far I like the food here. If that makes a difference.” She pulled off the black lab-coat and draped it over the back of her chair. Her shirt was black with a low V-neck. A necklace with a cartoon mouse hung from her neck.
“That necklace is cool. Aren’t you a little young to be a doctor?”
Her voice held a defensive edge. “I’m older than you think. Why do you ask?”
“Your necklace.”
“Oh.” She reached for the necklace. “It was a gift from one of the kids where I work. She said it was her lucky charm.”
My insides clinched. “A patient?”
“The test I helped create found her cancer early. She told me she’d ask for it back, if she ever needs it again.”
I let out a sigh of relief. “I wasn’t trying to get you in trouble by admitting your age.”
“It’s okay. I actually finished med-school early. I took dual-enrollment credits in high school and doubled up on my classes in college.”
“Didn’t a TV doctor do that?”
She laughed for the first time. “Since I was the youngest person in med-school that first year, everyone treated me like a freak.”
“That year?”
“Yeah, the second year a seventeen-year-old kid enrolled. That was when my fame ended.” She ate one of her fries. “Are you thinking of college?”
“I left home during my senior year. The agency got me a tutor, but I don’t know if those credits will transfer to a college.”
“But you’ve thought about going?”
“My plan was to be an aerospace engineer. I applied to a school in Florida that offered a scholarship. I knew my dad couldn’t afford to pay for college.”
“What does your dad do?”
“He’s an agent here.”
Her eyes widened. “This job must not pay what I imagined.”
“I’m not sure what it pays. I haven’t touched money in six weeks. There’s no need for it here.”
“You go outside, right?”
“I’ve left the base a few times.”
She touched my face. “That’s why your complexion is so pale. You need sunlight to stay healthy.”
“It’s safer for me underground.”
“Why?”
It was an honest question. I wasn’t sure how to reply, but the words began to spill out. “The person who raised me, the man I call dad, might not be my father. My real father could be a terrorist who wants to use my powers. He’s been trying to get me outside of the base to capture me.”
“They keep you locked up down here?”
Tears filled my eyes. “If they wanted to lock me up, there’s a whole floor with padded cells to choose from.”
“They try to keep people safe.”
“The only thing everyone agrees on is that I’ve got to figure out how to use my power.”
“You’re only seventeen,” she said. “You’ve got an amazing life ahead of you.”
“The only amazing part of my life is this power. But it’s not really my power. It belongs to whoever thinks can control me.”
She ate half of her burger before speaking again. “I thought my story sucked.”
“Can you do me a favor? Off the record?”
“What kind of favor?” she asked.
“A DNA test. I need to know if my dad is really my dad.”
“Can’t you get him to take a test?”
“He thinks we’re all better off not knowing.”
“You’re sure you want to know? What if this other guy is your father?”
She was starting to sound like Dad. “I think it’s my right to know.”
“Can you get a hair sample?”
I nodded. “I’ll sneak into his room.”
“Bring me a sample of his hair and of yours. Seal each in a plastic bag. I’ll compare them while the agency thinks I’m still finishing up my tests like the other doctors.” She burst into laughter, so hard her body shook. Dr. X put her head between her legs and tried to catch her breath.
“What’s so funny?”
“Sylvia told me to be ready for anything. She never mentioned you.”
“Would you have reconsidered the job interview?”
“Maybe. From what you’ve said, I might have to take out a loan just to work here.”
Her laughter made me think maybe my future didn’t look
so bleak.
* * * * *
At the long table, I chose a seat and instantly felt the loss of Angel and Skip. Agent Dallas smiled at me as she entered and took a seat across from me. I rolled my eyes. As if I wanted to spend an hour staring at her. To my relief, Travis didn’t attend the meeting. Neither did Dad, which meant I was on my own. Sylvia took her seat at the table and the meeting began.
An agent I’d never met led the meeting. She brought up the results from each test and compared the doctors using five columns. At this point, Dr. Nuke was in the lead and The Author was second. Dr. O was next to last. Only Dr. House scored below her, which brought a smile to my face.
After the presentation, our leader asked each agent to pick their favorite. She paused when she reached me and shot Sylvia a questioning look.
“She gets a vote,” Sylvia said. “I’m interested to know who Miss Mason favors at this point.”
“Dr. O,” I said. “Can we change her name?”
“Change her…” Sylvia leaned forward. “You’ve got a better one?”
“She likes Dr. X.”
Agent Dallas laughed, which made me want to reach across the table. “Now we let the candidates choose their names?”
“The name sounds bad,” I said. “Who wants to be called Dr. O when O also stands for—”
Sylvia held up a hand. “That’s enough, Miss Mason. We’ll show no preference to any candidate, but we will show respect. If she thinks Dr. X is a more respectful name, she may keep it.”
“Thanks,” I said.
With a nod, Sylvia signaled for the meeting to continue.
* * * * *
Before dinner that night, I crept into Dad’s room. He was still away on a mission, which made me worry. It also gave me the chance to find a sample of his hair.
On the comb in his bathroom, I found my sample. I slid it into a plastic bag and sealed the zipper as the bedroom door opened. In a frenzy, I stuffed the bag into the pocket of my jeans.
“What are you doing in here?” Dad asked. “I didn’t leave anything to drink this time.”
“Nothing,” I said. “I was just bored.”
He raised an eyebrow. “When have you ever been bored?”
