Page 82 of Longing for Liberty
I did it.
The realization hit me, and I smiled to myself as I bent behind the counter to pick up an invisible object.
I couldn’t believe it. I’d really done it. Now I just had to pray that the information made its way to those who could use it. Use it how? I didn’t know.
Had Jeremy heard? And Rebecca? It was killing me not to know how they were.
Three days passedbefore I worked up the courage to stick my head in the maid’s office after dinner. Kathy was just finishing up, putting her purse on her shoulder when I said, “Knock, knock.”
She blinked at me. “What can I do for you, Libby?”
“I take walks at this time every day, and I wondered if you might like to walk with me. It’s been a while since I socialized with anyone.”
I figured that would be an acceptable explanation to those who were likely listening.
Kathy cleared her throat. “Okay, then.” She sounded so grumpy and put out that my feelings would’ve been hurt if I didn’t think it was probably, hopefully, an act. “Let me lock up.”
She closed up, and we set out, not speaking at first. Fall was starting to show signs of being on its way. The air was a touch cooler and drier, the sky overcast. Evening storms would be setting in soon. I lifted my face to catch whatever UV might be left in the evening sky. I made no move to look at the drone that slowly flew past us, though my body tensed until it was gone.
“How are things?” I asked her.
“Everything is fine. I’m glad to see you seem to be doing well too.”
I spoke quietly. “And the…others? How are they?”
She paused a moment, hopefully realizing I was asking about Jeremy and Rebecca. She watched her feet. “Getting by. Don’t worry yourself.”
Had she seen me? Worry was kind of my thing. I said nothing.
“If I…” I cleared my throat. “…learn any new cooking or cleaning skills…?”
“Sure, yes. Let me know.”
I nodded, though we still hadn’t looked at one another. We passed the massive eagle fountain, and I thought of Roan’s cocaine at the party. A shiver passed over me, and I crossed my arms, grasping them.
I whispered, “President Wright fell from his balcony, possibly killed by Roan, who’s now in full power of the OM.”
Kathy let out a laugh that took me by surprise, and she gave my arm a light whack as we came up on two men walking. They were still a ways off, but I laughed too, shaking my head at our fake silliness. As we neared the men in suits, they nodded to me and didn’t address Kathy.
A sudden blaring of sound caused me to yelp and stop abruptly, covering my ears.
“The siren!” Kathy yelled over it. We made eye contact, an exchange of fear going between us.
A woman’s robotic voice sounded:“Security Breach. Security Breach. Return to your homes for immediate lockdown. I repeat…”
Without another word, Kathy and I both turned and rushed back, her toward the buses and me to Eagle Tower. My dinner was halfway up my esophagus as I took the elevator.
Had they found out there’d been a breach on the Secretary’s own computer? How good could I lie? What were my tells?
A string of curse words tore through my head as I opened the door to find Amos on his phone again. He let out a breath when he saw me and waved me in. The sirens were still going off outside but were muffled in here. I took a seat primly on the couch while Amos paced.
“Yes, but how?” Amos’s voice was nearly a shout. “How did they get the code? … Well, find out!” He hung up with the poke of a finger, and his biceps flexed as if he might punch something or throw the phone. Once he settled, he looked at me.
“Did the sirens startle you?”
“Yes,” I said. “But I’m okay.”
He looked like he was about to say something when his phone rang again, and he answered.
