He heard the beeping of a code and the loud release of bolts in the door. The door opened slightly.
“Will.”
He hadn’t imagined it, that last moment in Jane’s house. Even for a moment, it was a face he instantly recognized—his eighth birthday party, Sunday dinners around Nanna’s table—his aunt Kate was there for a while, often in a business suit, fresh off a plane. And when she wasn’t dressed for a meeting, she was in a Predators jersey, playing football with him and his brothers, a cautioning hand when they were in public, scanning for photographers in the crowd. The family’s pit bull, William’s dad had called her, ready to bite anyone who lunged at them and wired not to let go.
Until Grandpa Tom resigned from office, and the aunt he knew became someone else.
Very much looking like a US senator, in her dark blue suit and glasses, she walked over to him, her arms outstretched.
“Don’t,” he said, holding up his hand.
She paused as he groggily stood. “You’re with them, Kate. You let them do this.”
“Honey, I didn’t want to. It’s the last thing I ever wanted. And I’m not with them. I want to keep you safe. Keep everyone safe.”
“Safe? You call drugging and throwing me—wherever we are—safe?”
“This is the safest place right now, I promise you.”
“And you’ve locked up a little girl and a doctor too? And Steven, is he here too?”
“They’re two of the deadliest people on the planet, William. And you know it as well as I do. This had to happen. As for Dr. Richards, he’s being questioned right now.”
“Thinking about maybe pegging this one on him too? Since the murder charge didn’t stick last time?”
“William, please. I had nothing to do with that—”
“Why are you even here, Aunt Kate? How do you know about any of this? How did you know how to find me?”
“I’ve been trying to track you down for a year now, William. Obviously, since the disaster in Little Rock, I’ve moved heaven and earth to locate you. People have come to me with information that assisted in that effort.”
“People? Such as government agents dressed in black? The same ones you used to deny existed? I remember the fights you had with my mom over the phone. You denied everything that Nanna said.”
“I made a lot of mistakes. But I understand now. It’s why we’ve desperately been looking for you—”
“We’ve?” William winced. “So you’re now aligned with the SSA? Because news flash, Aunt Kate, they weren’t trying to look for me. They’ve tried to kill us all.”
“I wouldn’t let anyone lay a single finger on you, and you know it. I’ve done it all your life. I know this has been horrible for you, and I’m not happy about it—”
“This is bullshit.”
“Hey,” she said, snapping her fingers. “I’m know you’ve been through hell, but son, I’ve changed your diaper, taught you to tie a bowtie, and taken red-eye flights to make your eight a.m. Little League baseball games—”
“You turned your back on us!” William outstretched his hands. “Your own family! Your own mother! And now you try to play the doting aunt?”
“I don’t expect you to understand. You have every right to blame me. But I never stopped loving any of you.”
“This is how you show your love—”
“Yes, this is how I show it,” she said, taking a step towards him. “You are no longer on the run. You are under constant protection. I can at least tell your mother and father and brothers that you are with me and there is no need to worry while we try to figure out what to do next.”
“You don’t get it. There isn’t time. If you keep me locked up in here, I can’t stop this. I can’t stop what’s coming. You want to keep your country safe? There won’t be a country if you keep me down here.”
“What is best now is that you and the other three are safe and taken care of, and I swear I will make sure you have everything you need—”
“The other three? You’ve found another?”
Kate bit her lip. “I will tell you everything in due time. Everything I learn I swear I will share with you. I will keep nothing from you. I’m just trying to protect my state and my country and family—”
“You know about Blue, then? Do you know about that, Aunt Kate?”
She blinked. “Blue?”
“They didn’t tell you that, did they?” William said, motioning outside the door. “Ask your friends in the suits about Blue. Ask your government about Blue. Then see if you can ever look any member of your family in the eye again. Until then, leave me the hell alone.”
William turned away from her, his fingers laced behind his head.
“Will—”
“Ask them. Ask them about Blue. See if you think your family is safe in the hands of your government.”
She sighed. She went to the door, her hand pausing on the handle. “You know I love you, even if you hate me right now. But I can’t put family before country.”
When he didn’t respond, she quietly walked out. A series of bolts sealed behind her.
The anger burned, and in it, he sensed Lily immediately. He felt the rise in her as well.
He took a deep breath and blew out through his nose, repeating it over and over. He closed his eyes.
William?
In a heartbeat, he was with her. She sat on the edge of a bed, clutching a large pink stuffed hippo. On the walls were posters of unicorns and teddy bears. A small table beside her bed was covered in LEGOs. Another custom-made prison.
Lily. I’m here.
Come get me.
I’m trying, honey. But I have to figure out how.
I’m scared.
I know. But just stay calm.
Please come get me.
I’ll come for you, I promise, as soon as I can.
He hated to make a vow he might not be able to keep, and hated even more to leave her.
As soon as he broke the connection, he attempted another.
Jane was pacing in a room similar to his, but obviously much less prepared. They didn’t know enough about her to try to personalize her cell.
Jane.
She flinched, looking around. Even with her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, wearing the same scrubs for God knows how long, William couldn’t help but notice what he first thought when he saw her: Dr. Spencer was a beautiful woman.
Jane, it’s William. I’m here.
“What?” she almost cried out.
Listen, try to talk to me just by thinking. They’re watching us every second, I’m sure of it. Please. Just try.
She opened her mouth to speak.
Just think. Try—
William?
Yes. I’m here.
What is going on? My God, where are we?
I don’t know. I’m in a room just like yours. The agents found us. The same agents I told you about before. They somehow got to you before I could. I don’t know how. They want to keep us isolated.
They can’t do that. We haven’t done anything wrong….
He sensed the apprehension as soon as she said the words. They’d spoken for hours at the abandoned home in New Orleans. She’d fought every claim he made, about the disappearance she didn’t remember to what she was capable of doing with the storms.
But at last, she couldn’t deny it. She knew what she’d seen. She’d just said she wanted to go to her home. He’d of course agreed. He’d told her not to even give him her address. That as further proof, he’d just find her that night.