Read Online Deviant by Adrian McKinty - Free Book Online Page B

Benson—her name’s Laura, by the way—she only pretends to follow along in the book; she’s really reading a magazine behind her desk. Usually
People
.”
    â€œSo who was that big red-shirt guy?”
    â€œOh, don’t worry about him. He’s OK. His dad’s a janitor at the MFC.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œMetropolitan Faith Cathedral. It’s the big church around here. My parents go there too. Actually, I go there with them. Lots of people do. My dad’s an elder. Don’t worry about it. Don’t worry about any of it.”
    â€œWhat about those other kids?”
    â€œHector’s OK, really. Don’t stress about him. Not as smart as Tom. He’s OK. But Charlie … He thinks he’s made of awesome. He’s from South Carolina or somewhere originally. Transferred here from Citadel Prep last term. Bythe way, if you want to get on his nerves, ask him what his dad does.”
    â€œWhat does his dad do?”
    Tony grinned. “He runs the
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
tours of Colorado Springs. Drives people around in the bus.”
    â€œDr. what?”
    â€œIt was a show from the nineties. They filmed in L.A., I guess, but it takes place here, so a lot of tourists come out for it. Especially from Japan. It’s kind of embarrassing, really, because there’s nothing to see. You know?”
    They turned right on Manitou Road. The houses thinned out there and the sidewalk became narrow. Pinecones and needles crunched under their feet.
    â€œWe used to go out. Charlie and me. Not anymore. I’m so over him,” Tony said, and continued to disprove this by talking about Charlie until Manitou Road bent to the left and the houses began again.
    â€œHey, what’s that?” Tony asked.
    There was a work crew up ahead. Tony was looking at them in fascination, and as she did so Danny examined her. Her neck had a little mole on it just beneath her chin and her eyes had a strange aquamarine tinge to the irises. She caught him looking. He coughed. “So what are you saying? There’s several secret clubs or something?”
    â€œOh yeah, about four or five. Most of them are stupid, but the SSU is pretty serious. Tom thinks—”
    â€œDanny! Danny, over here!”
    â€œThere’s someone calling you,” Tony said.
    It was Walt. He was standing next to a gang of six men in orange overalls, each of whom had a chain running between his ankles. The men were being watched by a prison guard in a cowboy hat who was holding a pump-action shotgun across his body and blowing bubblegum bubbles.
    â€œDanny, over here!” Walt called again. Bob was with him, operating some kind of earth-pounding machine. Bob was also wearing a pair of orange overalls. He turned the machine off when he saw Danny.
    â€œYou better go over,” Tony said.
    â€œYou go home … I’ll talk to you later,” Danny muttered quickly.
    â€œNo, I’d like to meet your dad,” Tony said breezily.
    â€œNo, just go home, please,” Danny insisted, but Tony was having none of it. She walked across the road, and Danny reluctantly followed.
    Walt introduced himself, Bob, and the members of his work crew. The guard with the shotgun didn’t seem to care that all the men had downed their tools to chat.
    â€œThis is Vern,” Walt said, and Vern touched two fingers to his cowboy hat.
    â€œWow, so this is a real chain gang,” Tony said, impressed.
    Bob laughed. “Yup, I guess, technically speaking, it is, although we’re not chained together; that would make it too hard to work.”
    â€œPretty rad,” Tony said.
    â€œWhat do you do, young lady?” Bob asked. The sun hadbrought out Bob’s orange freckles and he didn’t look much like a hardened con.
    She grinned. “I’m at junior high!”
    â€œJunior high? I felt sure you were a doctor or a lawyer or something,” Bob