from his tablet, Jason said, “I guess we should get moving.”
“Okay,” Sabrina said distantly; she didn’t sound nearly as ready as Jason felt.
* * *
By the time they were back on the highway (with Sabrina driving now), Jason had explained to her about Seito recruiting him into the AC early that morning. He figured it was safe now that a legitimate, high-ranking member had spoken directly to her. If it wasn’t…well, it didn’t matter because being honest with her was more important.
“And you do realize,” she said, “there’s no going back from this, right? Guardian will have you down in their records for good. Silte too.”
“Yeah,” he said, “but they already did, remember? Knowing what you know now, do you really think they would’ve just let me go on living my life?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Hey.” He suddenly had an idea he couldn’t believe he hadn’t considered sooner. “Do you think—after we’re through with this stuff— is there some way you could talk to someone still with the GPA about getting me removed from their records? Like maybe the other detective, your, uh…girlfriend?” Sabrina had said very little of her personal life as far as romance was concerned, but Jason had gathered that the other woman who had helped interview him was more than just her friend and housemate.
“ Erris,” Sabrina said. “And I don’t think it would work. I mean, I want to help you, but I’m almost positive they would catch on quick if a lowly detective like Erris attempted to modify records. All I would be doing is putting her in danger for probably no good reason. If you want to go that route, your best chance would be to find an expert hacker with the AC who also happens to be a Guardian lieutenant, if there is such a person.”
There very well could be. The people being held prisoner in the Houston Warehouse were all AC spies and associates who had been executives and other high-level employees in Silte companies. Why couldn’t the movement also have people in the private police organizations? If they were there, they would certainly be high up. He would have to ask Seito or Skexka after the Warehouse ordeal was over.
“It must have been hard to leave her there,” Jason said, watching headlights blur by on the other side of the highway.
“Yes it was.” She was paying almost too much attention to the road in front of the car.
“I’m sorry,” he said, trying to sound comforting. Then, hoping to lessen the gloom now heavy on her side of the car, he said, “All this time I had anxiety about you insisting that I sleep in the hotel beds with you, but I guess there was no reason to worry.” Idiot , he thought immediately. But to his surprise her mouth stretched into a genuine smile.
“Oh, I never said I didn’t like men,” she said, glancing over at Jason, who was a little taken aback. “Don’t worry,” she added. “I’m loyal to Erris. And anyway, I may like younger women, but men your age are a little too impulsive for me.”
“Hey, my impulsiveness is why I’m here with you now, so be grateful.”
She burst out laughing and, in a sudden release of the emotions built up inside him, he laughed along with her until his tablet faintly buzzed in his lap. Still smiling, he swiped it to find that he had received a text-only message on his communication app—the old one, not the one Skexka had put on it. “A message from Seito,” he announced to Sabrina, laughter still fresh on his breath.
As he began to read the message, his mirth immediately turned to alarm. “For Joans only,” it read. “DO NOT let S read. AC and PAC breaking apart. Every leader going own way. Don’t trust Ra52. Don’t trust Skexka. Don’t trust valenC. DON”T TRUST ANYONE. Silte wanted riots to happen. Dellia Thomas at extraction point in Houston. Has way to stop virus. Virus is Silte’s final solution. Skexka maybe others want to sell her to Silte. DO NOT let them.
“Okay,” Sabrina said distantly; she didn’t sound nearly as ready as Jason felt.
* * *
By the time they were back on the highway (with Sabrina driving now), Jason had explained to her about Seito recruiting him into the AC early that morning. He figured it was safe now that a legitimate, high-ranking member had spoken directly to her. If it wasn’t…well, it didn’t matter because being honest with her was more important.
“And you do realize,” she said, “there’s no going back from this, right? Guardian will have you down in their records for good. Silte too.”
“Yeah,” he said, “but they already did, remember? Knowing what you know now, do you really think they would’ve just let me go on living my life?”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Hey.” He suddenly had an idea he couldn’t believe he hadn’t considered sooner. “Do you think—after we’re through with this stuff— is there some way you could talk to someone still with the GPA about getting me removed from their records? Like maybe the other detective, your, uh…girlfriend?” Sabrina had said very little of her personal life as far as romance was concerned, but Jason had gathered that the other woman who had helped interview him was more than just her friend and housemate.
“ Erris,” Sabrina said. “And I don’t think it would work. I mean, I want to help you, but I’m almost positive they would catch on quick if a lowly detective like Erris attempted to modify records. All I would be doing is putting her in danger for probably no good reason. If you want to go that route, your best chance would be to find an expert hacker with the AC who also happens to be a Guardian lieutenant, if there is such a person.”
There very well could be. The people being held prisoner in the Houston Warehouse were all AC spies and associates who had been executives and other high-level employees in Silte companies. Why couldn’t the movement also have people in the private police organizations? If they were there, they would certainly be high up. He would have to ask Seito or Skexka after the Warehouse ordeal was over.
“It must have been hard to leave her there,” Jason said, watching headlights blur by on the other side of the highway.
“Yes it was.” She was paying almost too much attention to the road in front of the car.
“I’m sorry,” he said, trying to sound comforting. Then, hoping to lessen the gloom now heavy on her side of the car, he said, “All this time I had anxiety about you insisting that I sleep in the hotel beds with you, but I guess there was no reason to worry.” Idiot , he thought immediately. But to his surprise her mouth stretched into a genuine smile.
“Oh, I never said I didn’t like men,” she said, glancing over at Jason, who was a little taken aback. “Don’t worry,” she added. “I’m loyal to Erris. And anyway, I may like younger women, but men your age are a little too impulsive for me.”
“Hey, my impulsiveness is why I’m here with you now, so be grateful.”
She burst out laughing and, in a sudden release of the emotions built up inside him, he laughed along with her until his tablet faintly buzzed in his lap. Still smiling, he swiped it to find that he had received a text-only message on his communication app—the old one, not the one Skexka had put on it. “A message from Seito,” he announced to Sabrina, laughter still fresh on his breath.
As he began to read the message, his mirth immediately turned to alarm. “For Joans only,” it read. “DO NOT let S read. AC and PAC breaking apart. Every leader going own way. Don’t trust Ra52. Don’t trust Skexka. Don’t trust valenC. DON”T TRUST ANYONE. Silte wanted riots to happen. Dellia Thomas at extraction point in Houston. Has way to stop virus. Virus is Silte’s final solution. Skexka maybe others want to sell her to Silte. DO NOT let them.
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