‘Control, give me a status update.’
‘I’m en route to the ballroom.’Fenwick tells him, fraught and breathless.‘Right now.’
‘Negative.Stay in the control room.’
‘Where’s the boy?’
‘Cascade is with me.’
‘Give me your location.’
‘Negative.Local frequency is not secure, repeat, not secure.’
‘Tell him to make it stop.’
Lachlan hears more people coming, so pulls Jules further down the corridor.From inside the ballroom, the panic is escalating.He onlyjustgets Jules quietly into a supply room and clicks the door shut before the lights come back on.All told it was less than two minutes of total darkness.
‘You all right?’In the light, he scans Jules all over, whose light brown eyes are fixed on Lachlan in ways that will become worrying later.‘Jules?’
‘Y-yeah.’The boy nods, gaze glassy.‘Are you?’
‘I’m fine.’Lachlan waits until the people outside have passed by and then he emerges, holding Jules by the wrist.‘Stay with me.’
‘Was that Fenwick?’
‘Keep quiet.’
‘What did he mean, tell him tomake it stop?’
‘The storm has him rattled,’ Lachlan tells Jules, peering carefully around the corner before leading towards the staff stairway.It’s clear.‘Come on.’
‘Shouldn’t you get back to the—?’
‘You’re my priority, you and Mimi.Walk faster.’
‘My father’s gonna be furious.’
‘Let him.’
‘Lachlan, why is my codename—?’
‘HOLD IT!’
Lachlan turns sharply, moving Jules behind him as he looks down the staircase.Fenwick is there, radio in one hand, gun in the other.
In less than two seconds, Lachlan reads all he needs to know.
‘Fenwick,’ he says, evenly.‘It’s good you’re here.I need your help.’
‘Tell him to stop it.’
‘What’s the situation with the comms?’
‘Don’t handle me,’ Fenwick says, his wide eyes fixed on Jules.‘Make him stop doing this.He’s controlling it.He—’
‘You’re compromised.Put the gun down.’
‘Make him stop, Lachlan.’Fenwick sounds afraid.
