Page 58 of Anarchy Missing

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - CASE

“OK,” she says with a fake smile. “I really do have to go. Can you please let me out? I have a meeting at work in thirty minutes.”

But I know that look. That looks says, He’s nuts.

“Lulu, just wait.” I reach for her arm but she pulls away quickly. Like I might burn her.

“Nope,” she says, still fake-smiling. “I gotta go. It was nice catching up and I have to say thank you for that impromptu sex last night. I don’t usually do things like that but it was exciting and fun. So maybe we can do it again…” She drops off and blows some hair out of her face. “Never mind. I’m just going to be honest because that’s the kind of girl I am. You creep me out, Case Reider. Not a little, but a whole lot, OK? I’m done. I need to leave.”

She crosses her arms and taps her toe on the black tile floor.

“Now,” she adds, when I don’t move or speak.

“I’m not creepy,” I say. “I’m just… adjusting, OK? I’m doing my best, Lulu, I swear to God, I am. But I’m not creepy and neither are my friends. You’re just not hearing me. And you’re jumping to conclusions. Especially about my friends.”

“Did you blow up Blue Corp? Answer that truthfully and without conditions and I’ll rethink my assessment of you.” She waits, then adds, “You have five seconds. One, two—”

“Yes,” I say. “Yes. We did it. But it’s not what you think and I can prove it.”

“How?”

“You can talk to Linc and Molly. And even Thomas if you want. Although I should caution you, he’s not as lighthearted as I am and he really will creep you out.”

She shakes her head at me. “No. Not how can you prove it. How did you do it?”

I walk away. Go stand in front of the window and stare down at my city. “It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

“I thought you had a meeting?”

“I lied. Now start talking or I won’t bother lying anymore to save your feelings. I’ll just dial the last one on my phone.”

“You won’t believe me.”

“Try me, Case.” She crosses the room and stands next to me. I chance a glance down at her. She shrugs. “If you want me to stay, you need to start talking. Because bad things are happening and I need answers.”

I look back at the city.

“There was a helicopter…” she starts.

“How do you know that?” My words have a little shard of ice in them that I immediately want to take back.

“Someone filmed you guys. From a tall building, close by. They got everything on video.”

“From inside?” I ask, squinting at her.

“No,” she says, losing some of her bravado. “No. But I saw the footage this morning at the office. It showed a man, who we think is your friend Lincoln Wade, crashing a motorcycle through the top spire of Blue Corp. A guy parachuting out of it too. And another guy, sliding down into the broken building on some kind of grappling hook or something. That was the three of you, right? You, Lincoln and Thomas Brooks?”

I rake my fingers through my hair. This is not good. Linc is gonna be pissed.

“You should just tell me, Case. Then I can help you.”

“Help me with what?” I sneer.

“Help you make a deal, at least.”

“A deal?” I laugh. “You think you’re here to make a deal with me? So I’ll turn in my friends?” I shake my head. “You’re delusional, Lulu. Certifiably insane if you think I’m gonna end up doing time for that night.” I turn to face her. “What we did was Justice. With a capital J, understand?”