by Jill Cooper
Jake nodded. “It means everything to hear that. This is the only world we’ve known, with so much death and loss. But if we can still have compassion for each other, maybe it’s a start.”
Liz stared at him with a puzzled expression. Finally she laughed. “Are you sure you should be farming? Because I think you should be a politician.”
The idea of being a politician made him laugh as the lights dimmed and the coming attractions for the theater began to play. Liz crossed her legs and turned her attention to the theater screen. Her hand still on Jake’s lap.
And he found he couldn’t let it go. For the first time he had something to hold onto since Wendy died, since he lost his son, and Jake couldn’t let it go.
***
They stopped by the café for milkshakes not too different from the ones he drank in New Haven 56. They shared a strawberry one, heavy on the whipped cream, and Jake was aware that it was something a dating couple would do . Whether he was ready to date or not, it didn’t change the fact that something about Liz was intoxicating. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Her naivety, her sweetness, or strength for standing up for what it was she wanted.
Jake didn’t know, but he felt better, stronger, when he stood with her.
He went to the restroom and then checked his watch. It was close to the time Meghan would need to head back to the farm. Jake put his cell phone to his ear. “Meg? Just wanted to check that you didn’t need me.”
“We’re good here. See you back on the farm? Is everything all right with you?”
“Yeah. I’m just going to give Liz a ride back to her parent’s place once we finish up.”
“I see.” Meghan said and Jake could hear the smile in her voice. “You do that, honey. Have fun.”
Jake hung up his phone and then returned to the café. Liz was still seated in their booth, her hand on her chin as she gazed out of the window. Some other guy sat beside her. Liz jolted and she blinked her eyes, laughing nervously.
As Jake approached he recognized him as Charles Frintz, one of the farm hands from the Neufield farm. The one that always made him feel uncomfortable. His hair was slicked back like he was from an old greaser movie. “What do you say, Lizzie? You want to show me a good time.”
Liz rolled her eyes. “Charles. If my dad knew what you were up to, he’d have your head. You know that. So just back off.”
Her eyes fell to Jake’s. “Besides I’m here with someone else.”
Jake wanted to keep a low profile, but he didn’t want some creep to give Liz a hard time. “Come on, Liz. I’ll take you home.”
Her eyes were relieved. “Excuse me.” Her voice was angry, filled with determination. She stared down Charles Frintz until he stood up.
He huffed and stood close enough that Jake could smell the alcohol on his breath. Jake puffed up his chest and glowered. “I suggest you move along.”
“Yup,” he gruffed up, his eyes throwing darts at them both as he moved out of the café. Through the window Jake spied on Charles as he walked over to two NH officers standing at a crosswalk, monitoring traffic.
Dread and fear began to grow inside him.
Liz released the breath she had been holding. “Thanks. If my dad didn’t need the help…”
“Yeah,” Jake stroked her arm. “Listen, let’s get out of here. Okay?”
Liz smiled, but her eyes were far away. “Already? The day feels so young still.”
“That’s the Saskatchewan sun for you. It never feels like it’s late. I have to get back to the farm, too. Chores.”
Liz nodded and they left the café together. Jake shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her any further and they walked several blocks back to her truck. He opened the door for her and waited for her to slide in before he latched it.
He started the car and used his rearview mirror to watch Charles, still talking to NH. There was pointing. Jake thought they might be in trouble. Liz touched his shoulder and he jumped. “You seem awfully nervous. What’s the matter?”
Jake had to restrain himself. “Just want to make sure you get home safe. Your dad would never forgive me if I let something bad happen to you.”
She was back to smiling, biting her lip. God, he wanted to kiss her. Instead he put the car in drive and took off, accelerating for her family farm.
Chapter Six Jake
Hand in hand, Jake walked Liz up to her front steps. The moon was glowing bright and the porch light illuminated her face. Noses inches apart, Jake noticed hers was speckled with freckles, almost like droplets of coffee. She was adorable. “I had a nice time. I’ll try to be in touch soon.”
Liz nodded, that expectant look never strayed far from her face. “I know things are busy with winter so close. If you need anything, let us know. You helped us when we really needed it. Let us return the favor. Okay?”
“You’re too kind, Liz. But I promise, I will.” Jake leaned in. He knew he said he wouldn’t kiss her, but now those promises of restraint seemed so far away. Liz’s eyes closed. Jake could feel the warmth of her breath close to his own.
The front door ripped open. “Glistenings!”
Jake’s heart pounded as he spun toward Mark. His face was wide and his face pale, like he was having heart palpitations. Jake’s own sped up. “Pardon me?”
“On the television. C’mon you have to see this!”
Jake and Liz followed Mark into the quaint little living room. The old fashioned plasma TV was on the wall and on the sofa Jackie sat perched on the edge, the cat coiled around her feet. She didn’t acknowledge their presence, but simply used the remote to increase the volume.
Jake’s eyes were riveted to the screen in what he could only call destruction. Several rig trucks all charred and smoldering with giant wafts of smoke coming off the record. The bottom of the screen read ‘Glistening Freedom fighters killed by NH Police Force.’
His heart plummeted and vomit rose in his mouth as the world’s leading reporter Melissa Chang spoke. “Police agents were moving Glistenings into New Haven 57 when they were attacked at a roadside checkpoint. Four officers were killed and two other agents suffered minor injuries, but it looks like all glistenings in the rescue attempt were killed. The ones that swooped in are believed to be escape convicts from New Haven 56, John.”
Jake’s blood pressure dropped. He felt faint. He put a hand to his mouth in an effort to hide how upset he was.
Those were his men. His missing men.
He gnawed on the inside of his lip.
“How were the agents able to stop the glistenings?” The news reporter was asking.
“Well, John, everyone knows that New Haven 57 has a few new secrets up its sleeves to protect the humans that work in the bubble. Now we know one of those secrets is termination collars. All glistenings are fit with them and if something goes wrong, an agent can quickly terminate them with a flick of a switch.”
John chuckled into his fist. “Like the old Staples Easy button.”
Melissa smiled. “Precisely, John. If it was not for the quick thinking of agent Jenna Morgan, we’d be looking at a much different situation here.”
Jenna? Jake went pale and sat down on the sofa without meaning to. His legs were weak. How could she do that? Exterminate all the glistenings just like that? Would she be punished? Did she deserve to be?
“Over fifty humans were killed in the attack, but another forty in the hospital are believed to make a full recovery. It could have been worse had it not been for the quick thinking of Officer Morgan. A true savior to the NH.”
Dead. Humans dead? Jake stood up. “I have to go.” He rushed through the house, slamming the door open so the screen flapped in the breeze.
“Nick, wait!” Liz screamed from the porch, but the pickup truck was speeding down the path toward his farm before the driver side door finished slamming shut.
There was only one thing on his mind.
Victor was going to want retribution. And this time Jake wasn’t sure if he cou
ld talk him out of it.
Chapter Seven Jenna
Infirmary
Outpost, New Haven 57
Jenna sat up on her cot. One arm was bandaged and the other was cut, but otherwise she was fine. No word on the condition of the unborn cluster of cells in her uterus but in its defense, she hadn’t told anyone about it.
Strands of red curls had come free from her bun and now framed her face. They were singed thanks to glistening fire breath that had gotten a little too close for comfort, but at least she was alive.
Hopping down, it was clear that her ankle still wasn’t up to a hundred percent. She hobbled over to the next cot and peered down at Dirk’s unconscious face. He had a few bruises and cuts, but from the deep breaths he was taking, it was clear he was going to be fine.
She planted a kiss on his cheek and he moaned. “Dirk?” She asked with concern and gave his shoulder a shake.
“Do it again, but this time aim for my lips.”
Jenna suppressed a smirk even though his eyes were still open. “How long have you been conscious, jack ass?”
“Long enough to hear you crave orange juice and a little protein when you gave the nurse your order. Nothing wrong with me taking a little vacation from pain and misery.”
“We were about to be retired.”
“I meant a vacation from you.” Dirk smirked. When she punched him in the stomach it turned to a cringe. His eyes finally fluttered open. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. You really are a ball buster, you know that?” His arm slipped around her waist, pulling her in tighter.
“I haven’t even begun to bust your balls. When I do, you’ll notice.” Jenna’s voice dropped and her head lowered to kiss him. “I’m glad, real glad, that we both got out of that. And even more glad that dirt bag officer didn’t.”
Dirk’s teeth tugged on her pouty lip. “We’ve been through worse. Like you’re driving.”
“Can’t you ever be serious?” Jenna purred.
“We’re about to be reamed by the New Haven 57 chief of police. I think right now I want anything but serious. But I could settle for you.” His hand traveled up her back, yanking her down for a long, sensual kiss.
Jenna moaned, her hands flat against his chest. If only they were home. If only they had retired to her dream beach home yesterday.
If only she wasn’t pregnant.
A throat cleared from behind them. Jenna turned and saw the drill sergeant turned nurse standing with her hefty arms crossed. It made them look more like drumsticks than arms. “Chief is ready to see you in his office.”
Jenna’s eyebrow raised. “Where’s my juice?”
“Funny.” The nurse deadpanned and her eyes didn’t leave Jenna’s for a second. “You can have it after your meeting. Unless of course the chief kills you.”
She stepped back out of the way to let them pass. Jenna lent Dirk a hand and he pulled himself up with a grunt. A few broken ribs was nothing to sneeze at really, but it was something they had dealt with before. Once they made their way to the door, Jenna tilted her head back and said, “Not a lot scares me, but she does.”
“I heard that.” The nurse said.
Jenna cringed, grabbed her jacket from the coat rack at the front and they were out the door. It dumped them on the main floor of the base of operations. Outpost was where all the commanders had their offices, where the surveillance spied on the glistenings, and where the reconditioning of severe offenders took place. It was gritty, dark, but at least it was real. Jenna could appreciate that a lot more than the complacent phonery of the New Haven communities that glistenings lived in.
Outposts were usually set up like barracks, but this one was underground. A series of tunnels inside a fortified system of reinforced cement. New Haven was going to make sure that another Outpost wasn’t lost to glistenings fighting on the inside or out. Jenna couldn’t blame them and she felt safe being there.
She just hoped she would never need to break out of one again.
In the rooms off of the tunnels, there were officers going over everything from food rations, clothing necessities, and glistening transfers from other bubble communities. Like the ones that Jenna was supposed to safely arrive with.
It was supposed to be a boring babysitting job. Jenna never suspected the glistenings would attack. What was Jake thinking? Was he thinking? Had he lost control of those that followed him?
Jenna couldn’t ask him until she managed to get on the outside. Right now she had to face the music and hopefully after that she would be able to get in touch with him.
The chief’s office overlooked everything. Going inside reminded Jenna of all the times she went to see Chief Travis Reynolds. But instead of his warm smile she was greeted with the sour expression of Al Briggs. By all accounts a good man, but one that was really pissed off.
He didn’t stand when they entered the room. He taped his pen to the corner of his desk and gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. His eyes smoldered with fire so Jenna smoothed her pants and took a seat without so much a word.
Dirk followed her lead.
They both knew when the time was to hold their tongues.
Briggs didn’t say anything right away and he refused to look at them, studying the floor. He took a sharp intake of breath. “I’m really…really trying to hold my temper but what you both did.”
Jenna swallowed hard. “Saving the lives of human civilians, you mean? Because that’s what we did. We did what was necessary to ensure lives.”
“Necessary.” He turned to her swiftly, whipping his head around, and threw a look of death at her. “Five hundred glistenings dead, just like that?”
“What else would you have us do?” Jenna asked in a huff, her eyes narrowing. “We were under attack. Four officers killed. We were outnumbered and out gunned. People were burning, in danger. We didn’t bring the weapons necessary to drop a manic glistening. Let alone six of them, Sir.”
“What else would I have you do?” Brigg’s voice rose and he slammed his fist down on his desk so the family photos jumped. “Find another way. You’re Jenna Morgan. You always find a way. Maybe this time, you just didn’t want to.”
Jenna glanced to Dirk and saw hopelessness in his eyes. “You weren’t there. If you were under attack by a fleet of human organ eating monsters, you would have done the same thing. We might as well have been lying on a plate and garnished with parsley. Those glistenings were wanted dead or alive. So I served them up to you dead. Those harnesses were the only weapons we had against the glistenings so I used them. To me, that was finding a way.”
“If I were you, I’d watch my tongue.” Brigg warned.
Jenna stood up, her eyes flashing with burning hot deviance. “To get reamed out for doing my job, no thank you. This is why I can’t stand the NH. We play with fire. We keep a demon in a cage, and when that demon gets out, when you need to put it down like the animal it is, I need to apologize? I won’t. I refuse.”
Her lip snarled and she glowered at Briggs. Dirk tugged on her wrist, a way to call her off, to get her to back down, but Jenna was sick of pretending. She hated this place more than the blood coursing through her veins and she wanted nothing to do with them anymore.
“In a few weeks, no one will care.” Jenna said. “They’ll just be happy some humans were saved and there aren’t five hundred more glistenings free. I just saved your bubble and your job.”
Jenna narrowed her eyes. “So why aren’t you happy? What’s your angle, Chief?”
“Watch. Your. Tone.”
Jenna crossed her arms. “Don’t like it? Tough.” Her head whipped around to Dirk. “We’re leaving. Let’s move.” Jenna pulled the door open, but the space was blocked by two officers.
Her chest heaved as she took an angry, shaking breath. “What the hell is this? Back off, I’m leaving.”
Briggs stood up. “You aren’t going anywhere until we get what we need from you, Morgan. Sit your ass back down.”
Dirk stood up. “I think we
’re losing sight that we’re all on the same side.”
“Are we?” Jenna ran her tongue along her lip. “I think we stand for protecting the human population of this planet, what’s left of it. What about you, Briggs? Maybe all you care about is s securing your job. Or maybe there’s something you’re not telling us.”
Briggs held his breath and trembled with rage as he struggled with his words. His finger lashed out and pointed in her face. “For the time being I am your commanding officer and you will show me some respect, or you will spend the night locked up, Morgan. You don’t like hearing that, huh?”
“They haven’t built a cage yet I can’t get out of. Bring it. On.” Jenna stepped forward, her nose practically butt up against his chin. She wasn’t afraid of monsters and she wasn’t going to be afraid of a little man who put his own job above the safety of his officers and human civilians.
Dirk sighed. “Jen, c’mon.”
“The head of the NH, Carl Spector is on his way and he’ll deal with you. As for me,” Briggs shook his head, “I’m done with you. I should have listened to your detractors, but I thought this woman brought down the head of HI single-handedly. I can trust her. Never again.”
“Wasn’t exactly single handedly,” Dirk mumbled.
“So what do we do while he gets here. You going to lock me up?”
“I’m not ready for that sort of headache. We secured you a duplex in the police ward of New Haven 57. Stay there. Don’t go out. Don’t talk to any glistenings. If you harm a single one of them…”
“I have no reason to hurt them.” Jenna said with a glare. “I am not trying to hurt them, you get it? I did what I had to to survive. Save lives.”
“They were innocent.” Brigg’s eyes narrowed. “They didn’t ask for the others to launch a rescue attempt.”
Jenna snorted. “No glistenings are innocent.” She said that and the truth of her words hit her like a freight train. She thought of her son, of the baby growing in her womb. Biting her lip, she glanced down so no one would see the hurt in her eyes. But it grew around her heart and Jenna felt so much regret, pain, she could barely draw a breath.
