Read Online The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst - Free Book Online Page B

death. But there was just one problem—the clones always went crazy. A few years of dealing with that led to cloning being outlawed by the government.
    Neither one of us says anything for a while. Finally Professor March asks, “Where are you staying tonight?”
    I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe here. I can’t handle Mom right now.”
    “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
    “It’s mine and Shan’s apartment now.” It surprises me how much saying that hurts. Yet another reminder Dad is gone.
    Professor March looks down, taking a few deep breaths, then back at me. “I don’t think you’re ready to stay here. Not alone, anyway. Leithan hasn’t been gone long. It might be too overwhelming.”
    “Where else can I go?”
    “I don’t mind if you stay with me for a while. I’m not due to go back on Warden Duty for another two weeks.”
    The professors at the Academy rotate staying in the residential halls with the cadets, to make sure we “behave like proper trainees.” Most of them let us do what we want as long as we don’t do anything stupid. But some of the professors actually enforce all the rules. Like Professor Cayhill.
    “Okay,” I reply. “I’d like that.”
    Professor March stands and claps his hands together. “Good. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Are you ready to go?”
    I almost tell Professor March that I want to finish searching Dad’s desk, but I bite back the words. He didn’t believe me when I said I saw Dad at the Foster Assassination. He’d think I really am crazy.
    But I can’t leave without checking the last compartment.
    “I need to go to bathroom first,” I lie. Not the most original excuse, but it works.
    “Sure, I’ll wait.”
    Back in Dad’s room, I fly to the desk and ease out the middle drawer. I set Dad’s things on top of the desk and run my fingers along the right side behind the inkwell. It takes a few tries before I find a depression in the wood and press it. The back side of the inkwell pops out with a soft click, revealing two small hidden drawers. My fingers tremble as I check the first drawer. It’s empty.
    The second one better have something, or I might wild out. I will my pulse to slow as I slide the second drawer out and reach inside. I can’t find anything at first, but in the back corner I touch something. Feeling relief, I snatch it out. It’s an old-style envelope. I tear it open and nearly fall over when I check the contents. The envelope is stuffed with hundred dollar bills. Those went out of circulation when the North American Federation was formed and credits were designated as the new currency. I’m so shocked to see the money that I almost miss the DataDisk tucked in the envelope. I’d give anything to check it out now. But I can’t keep Professor March waiting.
    I slide the envelope into a leg pocket of my uniform and replace everything in the drawer before rejoining Professor March. We’re on the way out of the apartment when my DataLink chimes. I check to see who is calling and let out a groan. “I wish she’d forget I exist.”
    “Morgan?”
    “Yeah, I don’t want to listen to her anymore today.”
    Professor March frowns. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but she’s your mother. And since you’re a minor and she’s your only legal guardian, you need to talk to her. She could make things really unpleasant for you.”
    I want to tell him what I think of her, but once again he’s right. Better to just go ahead and find out what she wants so she’ll leave me alone. I accept the comm and try to keep a neutral expression on my face as her image appears above my DataLink. “What are you doing at your father’s apartment? I thought I made it clear that you were to come to my place.”
    Here we go. “I don’t remember you saying that.”
    “I most certainly did. I want you to get over here immediately.”
    “I can’t, Mother. I’m a Time Bender, not a Space Bender.”
    “Don’t be a