Tag sat in the cinema and watched the movie twice. He looked at his com and saw that it was 3 a.m. He got up, left the cinema, and went outside to see if it was safe to go to the storage facility. There were shadows everywhere except where the cameras were watching. He left the building and walked the five blocks to the storage facility, making sure he stayed in psychic shadows. The key he had purchased allowed him twenty-four-hour access, so he entered and went to his unit. Inside the unit were a small floater and a file cabinet. The file cabinet was actually a disguised armored safe, and inside the safe were credits that Tag had hidden in the event that he would need to hide someday. He removed twenty thousand credits and locked the cabinet. He also removed another item that he slipped into his back pocket. Time to see Eric, he said to himself.
He moved the floater out and locked his unit, then moved the floater through the front entrance, making sure it closed behind him and was locked; then he lifted to the travel lanes above the buildings. He was safe from detection in his floater because the Directorate had not been able to place cameras in the air to look at all drivers, and having dark tinted glass on most of the floaters made it virtually impossible to see inside anyway. Registrations could be checked, but Tag had a valid registration on his floater. It had cost him extra, but the former owner had allowed him to keep the registration with the vehicle. He flew north for an hour until he could see the spaceport; then he looked for and found a public parking facility. He flew in and parked his floater on the bottom level, thirty-seven floors underground. There he turned off the floater, reclined his seat, covered himself with a blanket that he had stored under the seat, and went to sleep.
It was dark on the lower level so he slept until the middle of the afternoon. His com went off at 3:30 p.m. and he awoke rested. During the three years he had been hiding he would occasionally go by Erics home and see if it was still being monitored. A year ago Erics house was covered in psychic shadows for the first time since Tag started living with Richard. I guess they finally decided that Im not stupid and they were wasting their time. Tag wasnt certain if after Richards arrest they might start monitoring Erics house again, so he watched the house for three days and it stayed in the shadows. He watched Eric and Leila come and go during those three days. They had gotten married two years earlier after they had finished their advanced career classes. He was disappointed that he could not attend their wedding, but he had taken his floater and parked on the top level of a parking facility near the church. He used a visual amplifier and watched as they left. He noticed that every part of the building and the streets around it had no psychic shadows. Security was watching closely in the hopes that he might show up. He knew that Danielle was there; her light blue floater was parked on top of the church. He could have stayed and tried to get a glimpse of her, but he decided he couldnt handle the pain it would cause.
On the fourth day he waited until 7 p.m. put on his disguise and went and knocked on their door. Eric came to the door and said, May I help you?
Tag said, Is this the McAnn residence?
Yes it is.
I have a special delivery for a Leila McAnn, Tag said.
Eric looked back in the house and said, Leila, you have a delivery.
Tag saw Leila come to the door and look at him with raised eyebrows. I wasnt expecting a delivery. What is it that youre delivering, sir?
Tag reached into his back pocket and pulled out the red-covered test booklet and handed it to Leila. I think this is yours, he said.
Leila looked at the test booklet and then looked up at Tag with tears brimming in her eyes. Eric had been watching, and when he saw the man hand Leila a small pamphlet he didnt make the connection. It was only when Leila started crying that it hit him what it was, and then right after he realized who was delivering it. Tag, he said.
Hello, Eric, hi, Leila.
Both Eric and Leila ran out and wrapped their arms around him. Ive missed my best friend so much, Eric said.
Weve been so scared for you, Leila added. I found out after you and Danielle were attacked that it was you who stole my test booklet, and Ive wondered why you did it.
Eric looked around and said, Lets go inside, and by the way, that fake midsection you have on is not becoming, but I must admit I would have never recognized you.
Thanks, Tag said. Dont worry, Eric; they stopped watching your house a year ago. Were not being watched right now.
So what weve heard about you is true, Leila said. You can see when youre being watched.
Yes, I can.
Then why havent you come see me? Eric demanded.
I wasnt willing to place you and Leila in danger.
Eric got a funny look on his face and asked, And now you are?
Ive tried to minimize the risk. Ive watched your house for three days and it has not been observed by security during that time. I decided I would come and talk with you to see if you could help me.
Before we go into that, Leila said. I want an answer as to why you took my test booklet. Ive been troubled by that since I found out.
Tag looked at her, then looked at Eric, and then looked back at her and said, Leila, I loved you since the second level when I sensed you looking at my picture one night in the school annual.
You never said a word to me about it, Tag.
Me either, said Eric.
I know. It was something I kept in my heart for years. I heard you talking to Tara on the floater coming home on the day of the test. I just couldnt allow your future to be wrecked by something that you couldnt help. I decided to do something about it. But for those men attacking me on the way back to my house that night, I dont believe I would have been caught.
Tag, why didnt you tell me you loved Leila? Eric said. Im glad you didnt because I would have probably never asked her out if I knew, and I would have missed the most wonderful thing in my life. Leila smiled and kissed her husband.
While all this was going on, I met Danielle. I loved Leila without ever really getting to know her. I fell in love with Danielle after getting to know her. I stole your test booklet, Danielle stole my heart.
She misses you so much, Tag, Leila said. She has a hole in her heart only you can fill. She has been promoted three times during the last three years. All she does is work, never taking a day off. It seems every case shes assigned, she solves. We hear that she has been slotted to take Inspector Connors job when he retires.
Danielle probably doesnt realize it, but she also has psychic skills. I can actually see the field around her. She has the ability to see the truth in any situation. That gift will serve her well in the profession she has chosen. But to the issue at hand, I can no longer hide on Earth. There are too many electronic traps waiting to be sprung. I have lost my hiding place, and I know that its just a matter of time before they arrest me if I stay. Leila, you work in spaceport operations. Do you know of any way that I can board a ship or take a ship off planet without being caught?