Red Dawn (9 page)

The room falls silent momentarily as we absorb Pratt’s words and then all hell breaks loose. I watch, a happy spectator, as my peers carry on angrily. They scream and yell, protesting the injustice of Pratt’s decision. A few rowdy guys throw their glasses in Pratt’s direction and I wonder if they’ll make it through the night when this is all over. Most likely they’ll be expelled by dusk.

“Silence!” Pratt bellows, pounding his fist on the sturdy podium and looking like his head is about to explode. With the assistance of the faculty and staff, Pratt restores order to the assembly. “As I said, the entire student body will share responsibility for this atrocity. Until the perpetrator is identified, each of you will be put on work detail. My staff is assigning the duties as we speak. They will be posted in the dining hall by morning. Failure to report for duty will result in expulsion. No exceptions.”

Hell’s bells! So much for keeping my nose clean. Fat lot of good it did. I wonder what Pratt has in mind for me this time? I hope it’s not the stables again. Keegan is great company, but I have little interest in shoveling crap.

“Make no mistake. I am taking this very seriously. After all, what would we be without integrity and honesty?” Pratt’s face morphs then, his mouth snaking into a sick smile. “Lastly, anyone with information should make an appointment with my office. You may be shown a degree of leniency for your assistance.”

“Smart move,” Nik comments as we file out of the hall miserably. “Pitting the students against one another.”

“Yeah, that’s Pratt alright,” I agree, falling in step with him. “Mastermind of distrust.”

**********

I swing by the dining hall early the next morning to check my assignment. I’m surprised to see that I’ve been given kitchen duty again. I figured it would be worse. It’s not until I report in for the evening shift that I discover Pratt has done his best to make all of the assignments as miserable as possible. In my case, the dishwashers have been shut down and everything has to be scrubbed by hand. It’s just bloody twisted! The number of glasses, mugs, and goblets to be washed and sanitized is endless. It takes forever and the scorching water and harsh cleaners aren’t exactly easy on the hands. As if that’s not bad enough, I have to listen to the other girls bitch about chipping their nail polish. It’s nearly curfew by the time I get back to my room.

“Pratt’s really putting the hammer down over these stolen exams,” I complain to Shaye as I strip off my uniform and replace it with a pair of jogging shorts and a filmy t-shirt.

“Tell me about it,” she says, not looking away from her computer.

“What did he give you?” I ask. I haven’t seen Shaye all day and despite her illness, I doubt she’s managed to avoid the mass punishment. Pratt’s not exactly known for his sense of compassion. To my surprise, she doesn’t answer. She just continues to stare at the computer screen, oblivious to her surroundings.

“Hello?” I wave my hand in front of the brilliant white screen. “Earth to Shaye?”

“Huh?” she asks, looking startled. She has no idea what I’m talking about. I might as well not even be in the room. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“I asked what work detail Pratt gave you?”

“Oh, uh, laundry,” she replies, still looking completely distracted. It’s not really like her. I wonder what’s got her so enthralled.

“What are you working on?”

“Just checking email,” she says, turning off the monitor. She looks completely dejected. “For the hundredth time today.”

“Something wrong?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” She rubs the back of her neck gingerly. Shaye’s not doing well. I wonder if she’s feeling another relapse coming on. The possibility is alarming considering she was ill most of winter break. Another relapse so soon can’t be good. “Or maybe it’s nothing.”

“I’m listening,” I tell her, sitting on the edge of the unmade bed.

“I haven’t heard from Dr. Philips today. It probably doesn’t mean anything, but he’s never missed a week. He
always
sends me an update on Monday morning. Always. Even if it’s just a short message to say hello.”

“I wouldn’t worry. He probably just got busy. Maybe he forgot today?” I offer.

“No way!” she counters, refusing to even consider the possibility. “He
never
forgets. He’s a scientific, computer-junkie, lab nerd after all.”

“Even nerds get busy sometimes.”

“It just doesn’t make sense,” she says, ignoring my joke.

It’s clear she’s upset. Shaye counts on those updates to keep her spirits up, but one missed email hardly seems like anything to get so worked up about. Most likely she’s jumping to the wrong conclusion.

“He knows I’m running out of time,” she whispers sounding defeated.

I hate hearing her talk like that. The idea of losing Shaye is unbearable. She’s the only friend I’ve got and if anyone deserves to live, it’s her. She’s got a heart of gold.

“I’ll tell you what,” I say with false bravado. “I’ll call Aldo and see if he can find out anything for us. The Dwyer Group isn’t going to talk to a couple of high schoolers, but the head of the Elder’s Council? They’ll tell him whatever he wants to know, right?”

“Really?” she asks, looking hopeful. “Do you think he’ll do it?”

“Of course,” I assure her as I reach for my phone and dial Aldo’s private line. He answers on the second ring. Shaye sits beside me so that she can listen too.

“Hello, Aldo.”

“Katia!” He sounds happy to hear from me. That’s a good start. “How are you?”

“I’m well,” I reply. It’s good to hear his voice. I don’t call nearly enough. “I need your help. It’s important.”

“Oh?” He sounds surprised. Aldo knows how much I hate asking for help, especially from him. He’s already done so much for me. “I’ll do my best to help you in any way that I can. What is it, my dear?”

“I need you to make an inquiry at The Dwyer Group.” The words just come tumbling out. “There’s a researcher there, Dr. Philips, who’s working on a cure for the blood disease. He’s checked in regularly every Monday for over a year with my friend Shaye and she hasn’t heard from him today. We think that something may be wrong.”

“I see,” he responds carefully. I get the sense he thinks we’re jumping to conclusions and guilt kicks in. I know he’s got enough on his plate without me adding to it. “This is it?”

“Please, Aldo. I know it’s not much to go on,” I admit. “But it’s important. Please do this for me.” I’m not above begging Aldo for favors. He’s seen me at my very worst and my very best. If anyone sees me for who I really am, it’s Aldo. And he still loves me anyway.

“It’s late. I’ll have Viktor make an informal inquiry, but it may take some time. I may not get back to you until tomorrow.”

“Understood,” I tell him, nodding at Shaye to let her know he’s agreed to do it. “Not a problem. I’ll wait for your call.”

Chapter Twelve

I go through my morning routine, anxiously waiting for Aldo’s call. Shaye looks nervous as she dresses for class. I don’t know about her, but I didn’t sleep particularly well last night. The longer it takes to hear back from Aldo, the more time my imagination has to run wild. Doubt has begun to wreak havoc on my thoughts and settles in my gut like a stone. The weight of Shaye’s fears seems to be transferring to me. She’s running out of time and I can’t stop thinking about it.

I keep my phone at my side and am relieved when it rings between my morning classes. I answer on the first ring. It’s Viktor. I’m surprised Aldo didn’t call himself, but it doesn’t really matter as long as I get what I need. Aldo’s probably busy with council business anyway.

“I’ve got some bad news, Katia.”

My heart sinks. I’m not sure if I want to hear the rest, but I have to. Whatever it is, I’ll have to break it to Shaye.

“Go ahead.”

“Philips is missing. And so is the cure for otrava de sange.”

Like me, Viktor is a man of few words. He gets right to the point and doesn’t bother sugarcoating the facts. It’s one of the reasons I respect him so much.

“Are you sure? How could this happen?” Oh. My. God! I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Hysteria bubbles up within me. This can’t be happening! What about Shaye?

“I spoke to the company’s president and the head of security myself,” Viktor promises me. “The research team was in the final stage of testing a drug therapy that would reverse the blood disease. Saturday night, Philips entered the lab, downloaded all of the research, wiped out the hard drives, and stole the prototypes. There’s nothing left.”

“That can’t be!” I exclaim. “There has to be some mistake. Philips wouldn’t do that!”

“Katia, they’ve got him dead to rights,” Viktor tells me firmly. “Surveillance videos don’t lie.”

“I don’t believe it. I refuse to believe it!” I yell, trying to figure out how I’m going to explain this to Shaye. She’s going to be devastated. “Philips was so sincere in wanting to help Shaye. He promised to help her.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe something changed,” he says. “Regardless, the Linkuri have been tasked with hunting Philips down and recovering the stolen goods. That’s all I can tell you.”

“Bullshit!” I explode. “That’s not good enough!”

“Sorry, Katia, but that’s all I can tell you. Aldo’s orders.”

Viktor disconnects and I’m left listening to the dial tone, blood boiling. Why is Aldo always trying to protect me? I am not a child! I can certainly handle the truth and frankly, I think I deserve to hear it. No way am I going to just sit by idly and wait. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

**********

It doesn’t take me long to come up with a plan. I head straight for the dining hall, hell bent on finding Blaine. He owes me one and I’m going to collect, one way or another.

“What do you want?” Blaine asks, eyeing me suspiciously. I’ve had worse receptions. The look of disgust on his face isn’t going to deter me.

“I need your help.”

He laughs in my face. I expected as much.

“I must have died and gone to hell, because I could have sworn you just asked me for help.” He toys with the zipper on his hoodie, looking completely amused. He’s showing off.

“Yeah, well, you’ll probably burn, but not today.” I turn to the kid sitting with him. I’ve never seen him before, but that’s not surprising. I’m not exactly known for my social skills around here. “Get lost.”

Blaine looks outraged as his friend scrambles from the table, but it doesn’t last long. I guess he’s decided to play it cool.

“I’ll consider it a favor,” I tell him, taking the seat his nameless friend just vacated.

“Another favor from the Lescinka family?” he says, crossing his arms. I really want to wipe that smug look off his face, but I doubt that will get me very far. “I seem to be collecting them at a steady pace. Your
uncle
already owes me, so I think I’m all set.”

“Fine. Forget the favor,” I tell him through clenched teeth. I may need a Plan B if this doesn’t work. “You owe me anyway. For last year. Do this and we’re even.”

“I don’t owe you shit,” Blaine returns. He abandons the zipper and begins stroking the tunnel in his right earlobe.

“Wrong answer,” I reply, slamming my palm down on the table. My outburst draws several stares, but one look from me and the nosy observers quickly turn away. “I can’t take no for an answer, Blaine. After everything you did to me last year, stealing my laptop and bringing that monster here, this is the least you can do.”

“Not that I actually care what you think, but what’s the favor?” I could be wrong, but he seems interested. This whole thing is probably stroking his ginormous ego.

“I need you to do your whole cyber geek thing,” I tell him waving my hands like I don’t understand how it all works, which I don’t, “and hack The Dwyer Group.”

“The pharmaceutical company?” He practically chokes on the words. He also looks at me like I’ve grown a second head, but I’m not dwelling on it. “You’re out of your mind. Can’t be done.”

“Can’t be done? I seriously doubt that,” I return, narrowing my eyes at him. “I think you mean to say you
won’t
do it.”

“Do you have any idea what you’re asking?” he whispers, leaning across the table. “It would be extremely dangerous.”

“It’s only dangerous if you get caught,” I tell him, glancing around to make sure no one’s listening. “Don’t get caught.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Obviously.” I roll my eyes. He wasn’t too worried about legal trouble when he hacked me last year. “But if you’re half as good as you say you are then I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

“I’ll tell you what. I like a challenge. I’ll see what I can do.” He stabs the table with his pointer finger. “No promises.”

“I’d hoped you’d see it my way,” I tell him, smiling. Looks like I won’t need Plan B after all.

“Skip dinner tonight,” he tells me as he shoves back from the table. “You can feed in my room. It’s 257.”

**********

I knock on Blaine’s door at six o’clock sharp. I don’t want to waste another minute. Who knows how much time Shaye has left? Who knows how much time any of them have left? There are countless lives in the balance and if there’s anything I can do to help them, I’ll do it.

“Did you really need to bring your whole entourage?” Blaine asks as he holds the door open for us. There was no way I was coming up here alone. Blaine and I in a locked room together? Not happening. Even I know that would be a recipe for disaster. I’ve brought Shaye and Nik along to help referee, just in case. Fortunately, Shaye agreed to bring Nik into the loop on her condition. Good thing too because in addition to his refereeing duties, we may need him to keep Blaine from backing out.

“Let’s just get this over with, okay?” I ask in my most agreeable tone. I even force a smile although truth be told, it sort of feels more like a grimace. We pile into Blaine’s room and it gets real crowded, real fast. He’s got a single, but it’s packed with junk. I never would have pegged him for a hoarder, but that’s what he is.

“You do understand this could take some time, right?” Blaine asks looking annoyed. “This isn’t like a ten minute job. What you’re asking is extremely difficult.”