what this is about.”
“We just feel that Miss Perry may have information that could be helpful to the United States Army, and she would be doing a great service to her country if she could help us.” He followed up the lie with a practiced smile.
I glanced at Mom. Her face was impassive, but beneath the surface, she was wracked with indecision—was it worse to resist, or to cooperate? “Fine. Come on in, and I’ll make us all some tea—”
“That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Perry. We need to conduct the interview on military grounds. We’ll need to take her to Fairchild Air Force Base.”
“Absolutely not. If you want to speak with her, you can do it here.”
“I don’t think you understand,” the broad-shouldered man took a step forward. He wasn’t much taller than my mother, but he was stocky and imposing. The men behind him tensed, on high alert. “This is a matter of national security. The questions I need to ask must be discussed in a secure location. I’m willing to do it on the Air Force base, as it’s the closest military installation. Or we could do it at the nearest Army base, which is Fort Lewis, near Seattle. Or, if you want to make things difficult, I could take her back with me to Fort Detrick, in Maryland. It’s your choice.” The smile remained on his face, but it was more menacing than kind, and the smile did not reach his eyes.
“Is my daughter suspected of some crime? Do we need a lawyer?” My mother crossed her arms, unwilling to be intimidated…but I felt the fear she was fighting back.
Beside me, River was a bundle of nerves.
“I don’t know, Mrs. Perry…do you think you need one?” He let the question hang in the air for a moment. “Look, I have no desire to cause any problems here. I don’t know why you would want to. All I want to do is ask your daughter a few questions, and be on my way. Personally, I don’t believe she has much to contribute, but I do what I’m told. So the sooner you cooperate, the sooner I can be on a plane back to Maryland.”
Mom exchanged glances with River and me. Whatever he was hiding, Sergeant Major Weston wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t think I had much to contribute. Which meant that whatever Alex had said, the military—or at least Weston—didn’t believe it completely.
But they believed enough to think it warranted a cross-country flight, on last-minute notice.
What could Alex have said? Is this what was being discussed for so long with Dr. Kline last night? Did Alex spill the beans as revenge? Or because he was so disgusted with me?
Suddenly I didn’t feel like fighting anymore. If Alex didn’t want me, I didn’t care what happened. At least if they took me, the rest of the family might have a chance to get away.
“Let’s just get it over with, Mom,” I sighed, trying to feign the attitude of a normal annoyed teenager, rather than the terrified supernatural freak that I really was.
“Alright.” She turned to River. “You stay here. We’ll be back in a little while—”
“No, Mrs. Perry. I’m afraid there’s no room in our vehicle for you.”
“You are not taking my daughter without a guardian present.”
“You’re welcome to follow behind in your own car.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll see you at the base.” I hugged her, and whispered in her ear so quietly that no one but a Healer could have heard. “Don’t come. Stick to the plan.”
“I’m not leaving you. River will follow the plan,” she whispered back.
I pulled back, shooting her a glare . No, Mom! Stay here! I hoped she understood my thoughts by sensing my emotions.
“You’ll have to stop at the main gate,” Weston said to Mom. “We’ll leave instructions for you with the MPs there. Bring picture identification, and proceed to the building as instructed by the MPs at the gate.” He turned and descended the steps, striding
“We just feel that Miss Perry may have information that could be helpful to the United States Army, and she would be doing a great service to her country if she could help us.” He followed up the lie with a practiced smile.
I glanced at Mom. Her face was impassive, but beneath the surface, she was wracked with indecision—was it worse to resist, or to cooperate? “Fine. Come on in, and I’ll make us all some tea—”
“That won’t be necessary, Mrs. Perry. We need to conduct the interview on military grounds. We’ll need to take her to Fairchild Air Force Base.”
“Absolutely not. If you want to speak with her, you can do it here.”
“I don’t think you understand,” the broad-shouldered man took a step forward. He wasn’t much taller than my mother, but he was stocky and imposing. The men behind him tensed, on high alert. “This is a matter of national security. The questions I need to ask must be discussed in a secure location. I’m willing to do it on the Air Force base, as it’s the closest military installation. Or we could do it at the nearest Army base, which is Fort Lewis, near Seattle. Or, if you want to make things difficult, I could take her back with me to Fort Detrick, in Maryland. It’s your choice.” The smile remained on his face, but it was more menacing than kind, and the smile did not reach his eyes.
“Is my daughter suspected of some crime? Do we need a lawyer?” My mother crossed her arms, unwilling to be intimidated…but I felt the fear she was fighting back.
Beside me, River was a bundle of nerves.
“I don’t know, Mrs. Perry…do you think you need one?” He let the question hang in the air for a moment. “Look, I have no desire to cause any problems here. I don’t know why you would want to. All I want to do is ask your daughter a few questions, and be on my way. Personally, I don’t believe she has much to contribute, but I do what I’m told. So the sooner you cooperate, the sooner I can be on a plane back to Maryland.”
Mom exchanged glances with River and me. Whatever he was hiding, Sergeant Major Weston wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t think I had much to contribute. Which meant that whatever Alex had said, the military—or at least Weston—didn’t believe it completely.
But they believed enough to think it warranted a cross-country flight, on last-minute notice.
What could Alex have said? Is this what was being discussed for so long with Dr. Kline last night? Did Alex spill the beans as revenge? Or because he was so disgusted with me?
Suddenly I didn’t feel like fighting anymore. If Alex didn’t want me, I didn’t care what happened. At least if they took me, the rest of the family might have a chance to get away.
“Let’s just get it over with, Mom,” I sighed, trying to feign the attitude of a normal annoyed teenager, rather than the terrified supernatural freak that I really was.
“Alright.” She turned to River. “You stay here. We’ll be back in a little while—”
“No, Mrs. Perry. I’m afraid there’s no room in our vehicle for you.”
“You are not taking my daughter without a guardian present.”
“You’re welcome to follow behind in your own car.”
“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’ll see you at the base.” I hugged her, and whispered in her ear so quietly that no one but a Healer could have heard. “Don’t come. Stick to the plan.”
“I’m not leaving you. River will follow the plan,” she whispered back.
I pulled back, shooting her a glare . No, Mom! Stay here! I hoped she understood my thoughts by sensing my emotions.
“You’ll have to stop at the main gate,” Weston said to Mom. “We’ll leave instructions for you with the MPs there. Bring picture identification, and proceed to the building as instructed by the MPs at the gate.” He turned and descended the steps, striding
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