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Chapter Seventeen
I dress casually for my Saturday meeting that will be more about plans for future studies and who is doing what than anything substantial. On my way to the facility, I dial my father and end up in his voicemail. Despite the sharp twist in my belly at his pre-recorded voice, I’m not surprised. Last year on mom’s birthday, he wouldn’t talk to me either. A week later, he told me he had to deal with it on his own and he did that by working. He’s probably not even back. But the truth is that the X2 report and recommendation to lock the positive soldiers up weighs heavily on me. I’m worried for Creed. And if he is right and Julian is nuclear, I’m worried for us doing something rash that could backfire. I’m also worried about us doing nothing.
Once I’ve pulled into the parking lot and parked, I text Creed: Now you have my number. And so you know, I’m not changing my mind about this weekend. I’ll text you when I’m close to done.
I don’t have to wait for a reply: I’ll see you soon, Addie. And I look forward to hearing about your mom.
I tear up at his reply, which is not like me, but this day…it’s just this day. But he’s going to have a hard time convincing me he’s a cold-hearted killer with that reply, that’s for sure. I quickly punch in one last message: I’m really glad you’re going with me, Creed. I’m going inside now. That last part is so he knows I won’t get any reply he sends once I’m underground.
I exit my vehicle right as Katie pulls up and I hang back to wait on her. The minute she’s out of her car, she rushes toward me and lowers her voice conspiratorially. “I have news.” She glances around, as if she’s afraid someone will overhear us in the wide-open space.
“You’re making me nervous,” I say. “What is it?”
“I’m dating one of the soldiers that wasn’t involved with Project Zodius. He was brought in right after it all went down, and he went dark on me three weeks ago.”
The same time Creed left on his mission, I think.
“But he never left,” she continues. “He finally called me last night and told me—he wasn’t supposed to tell me, but he did—he was part of a covert program that transported the GTECHs attached to the marked woman to the same facility where they’re being held. It’s on property but way on the other side. We all thought they were somewhere else.” She doesn’t pause for me to comment. “Addie, he was in the middle of telling me more when the line went dead.” She catches my arm. “I’m scared for him. I’m really scared.”
I am too, I think, but that’s not what I say. “I’m sure he’s fine. He might have gone underground. I’ll see what I can find out.”
“You can’t ask your father.”
“I’d already planned to talk to him about his plans with the soldiers who are X2 positive anyway, so he might tell me something that helps, but he’ll be out of the loop this weekend. Today is my mom’s birthday. I guess we handle it our own way. He’s a loner about it.”
“Oh, gosh. I’m sorry. And you have this meeting.”
“It’s fine. I’m going to her grave this evening and to her favorite restaurant. It’s something I did last year, and I want to do it again.”
“I’d offer company, but I’m worried for Jack,” she says. “I want to stay close.”
“I got this and so do you,” I tell her, a strong sense of needing to keep me and Creed private. I feel like he will, as well.
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thanks. And text me the full name of the soldier that you’re dating, will you? And let me know if you hear from him. I’ll worry with you. I promise not to bring up his name. It’s just for me to know, okay?”
“Thank you. It’s good having you here, Addie.”
Another car pulls in, another on our team, and we start walking toward the elevators. I’m glad I’m here, too, I think, but I wish I would have come sooner. I wish I would have done something to stop Project Zodius from existing. And right now, I don’t feel I’ve done enough to uncover the truth of its origins, and how it’s been handled. I have my father’s ear. I have influence. And I have to fight hard enough for what’s right to make my mother proud. I just have to figure out what “right” means at this stage of the game.
Once we’re inside the facility, I excuse myself for a minute. “I’ll be there in five,” I tell Katie. “I want to put my stuff up.”
