Read Online Peace Out (The Futures Trilogy Book 1) by G.M. Whitley - Free Book Online

too,” Sophie said. The man set down the glasses and headed back to the bar.
    “What are you reading?” Sophie asked.
    “Nothing,” Olivia said, looking down at her tablet, which had gone black. “I was just enjoying the sun.”
    “Me too,” Sophie said. “For a while I was trying to read all the greats. You know, the hundred books to read before you die. But I realized that most of them are horribly boring. Now I ’ve found a trashy detective novel with a vampy femme fatale. Much better.”
    “I was checking the news. But it is all so depressing. What do I care about a teenage movie star who has given herself a purple mohawk and married a professional ping pong player?”
    “You could avoid the entertainment section.”
    “That leaves me with politics, sports, and natural disasters.”
    “That is why I avoid the news altogether,” Sophie declared. She paused for a moment. “Say, Olivia? Would you come with me to my treatment today? Ned can’t make it.”
    “What ’s he doing?”
    “He has a call that he has to take.”
    “I thought Ned was retired,” Olivia said.
    “Oh, he is,” Sophie said, “but men like Ned never retire. If the case is big enough they ’ll call him in to consult.” Ned had been a famous lawyer in Washington D.C. before returning to his home country for retirement. Olivia had never heard of him, but Joe had recognized his name. Ned had apparently argued multiple cases before the Supreme Court, including one that impacted insurance companies. Joe had been in the insurance business.
    “Of course I ’ll come,” Olivia said. “I’ll let Joe know when they get back from the driving range.”
    “Thanks Olivia,” Sophie said. The ladies returned to their reading.
    Olivia skimmed the headlines. “Oh, you’re kidding,” she exclaimed.
    “What?” Sophie asked.
    “They’re rebooting that Peace Out show from the thirties,” she said, touching the headline. The full article appeared. Olivia read aloud. “Somebody Save Me will feature four desperate individuals each week. They will extend their plea to you, America. Your votes over the next week will determine the winner, who will receive life-saving medical treatments or a lifetime buy into an Enclave, courtesy of Burkheim Insurance. But your vote can also be a pledge of any amount. See results in real time on the website. If your pick doesn’t win, but receives enough pledges to pay for treatments or Enclave fees, your card will automatically be charged the amount you pledged and additional lives will be saved! You could be Somebody!”
    “I ’ve never heard of that show,” Sophie said.
    “It ran for one season,” Olivia said. “I took a Peace Out history course in college. Something must have changed though if they ’re bringing it back.”
    “Why?”
    “The show got canceled because Peace Out wouldn’t let any show participants Peace Out. They made pledges on the last day of voting. So everyone was saved. Every week.”
    “What ’s wrong with that?”
    “Nothing,” Olivia said, “But the ratings dropped significantly once people realized that no one was going to die.”
    “That’s horrible,” Sophie said.
    “What ’s horrible?” Ned asked, walking up with Joe.
    “This television show,” Olivia said, handing Ned her tablet.
    He scrolled through the article, brow furrowed. “Well, at least they know better than to mention Peace Out,” he said. “I’m talking with their general counsel today. I’m sure she knows about this already, but I’m going to flag it.”
    “Olivia says it is a reboot of a show from the thirties,” Sophie said. “What ’s horrible is that the old show was canceled because Peace Out was saving the losers!”
    “It was probably the cheapest publicity Peace Out has ever bought,” Joe said. “Not that cost matters to them. They have more money than God.”
    “I think God’s holdings are a bit more extensive,” Ned said, “But Peace Out definitely comes