The Variables (45 page)

Grant’s mind drifted to the night he spent alone in Scott King’s bed. The brown sheets were soft and clean, and the downy comforter cocooned him against the hard mattress. He hadn’t slept that night because he was waiting for the virus to overtake his body. And all he could think about was seeing his mom again, and how grateful he was that she wasn’t alive to witness this. He had believed his father to be dead, too. Without people on the earth to love him, Grant waited for death with calm serenity. It wasn’t about Lucy then, or even about dying. It was about understanding how his death could have affected others.

And it wouldn’t have. Not really.

Not the way his death would affect Lucy now. Or his dad, alive, and waiting. It was different now than it had been before, and Grant wanted to scream that he deserved to live, so let him live. But his voice was stuck.

Even now, as Huck stormed forward, the determination set in the lines between his brows, he knew that if he thought too much about the aftermath of his passing, it would make his last few moments full of fear and longing. How many times had he been spared? At what point would a call for his life become a joke with a muddied punch line?

This time it was Gordy’s chance to come through Huck’s doors, and the moment the father made eye contact with his son, his fury shifted direction.

“She called you anyway? Demote her...”

“No, Dad,” Gordy said. “As a matter of fact, she tried to keep me from coming inside,” he shot a glare through the closing door. “But I got wind you had called for Scott and I couldn’t possibly understand why...seeing as how we discussed putting a moratorium on any changes to our Island populations for right now.”

“You decided that. I have remained constant in my desires. He’s not supposed to be here,” Huck said with a flippant flick of the wrist. “He’s not for my cause. He’s a danger...”

“Those things aren’t true, Dad,” Gordy said, unable to hide his contempt. “You’ve overstepped.”

“Are you out of your mind? You were the one cheerleading Copia...”

“And Copia is done.”

“You agreed...”

“To killing Grant when it could be easily covered up. Not anymore. To everyone on Kymberlin, the Copia crowd is enjoying their first night on their new Island. You think if word gets out that you’re offing members of our community that you won’t face a revolt? Muuez and Shay are dead because people could no longer trust them. If you misstep here, you are inviting the same demise. You don’t think this kid knows where he stands? You don’t think he understands the fragility, the precariousness of his life?” Gordy turned to Scott. “You won’t be needed. You may go. But I want to talk to the boy.”

“Gordy,” Scott said. “Your father mentioned that I’ve been...”

“This is clearly not the time, Scott,” Gordy snapped. “I have never been a fan of your waffling and your weak temperament. Your work is celebrated, but I’m not losing sleep over considering our partnership over. It’s not even that you cared about the boy. It’s that you lied. And continued to lie. And your lies cost us time, men, and energy.”

“I didn’t lie—”

Gordy gave a knowing stare and shook his head. “Don’t you think you’ve earned enough from us? Leave your credentials with the secretary on your way out. You won’t be called for any more late night emergencies.”

“I was promised a leadership role for my...”

“You have received everything you were promised,” Huck yelled. “And you’ve done nothing but work behind our backs.”

“That’s not true...”

“I’ve spared the child,” Gordy said wearily and he pointed to Grant. “But I will not go to bat for you. You are finished with the Elektos and your security clearance is revoked. Go enjoy some time as a civilian, Scott—your services with our government are no longer needed.”

Scott hesitated. He looked at Grant and then to Gordy, and he looked confused. Without another word, he grabbed his kit, but Gordy cleared his throat.

“Leave the virus, Scott,” he said.

Setting it back down, Scott looked at Grant and then to Gordy and Huck, and without another word, he made a swift exit, leaving Grant alone and exposed, the storm clouds gathering energy, rain spitting against the glass.

“You’re not dead because my sister somehow wants to tout you as some war hero...so, you’re safe today,” Gordy said. “Safe for now. But let’s understand something…we are watching you. You will champion Kymberlin and the Truman regime as long as you have breath. Your life depends on it.”

Both of them turned to the sound of shattering glass. Grant saw that Huck had ripped down the framed piece of creased, stained paper and tossed it to the ground. The glass in the frame broke into dozens of tiny shards, and Huck stared at the mess, pointing a long finger at the paper inside.

“It will crumble,” Huck said. He had gone trancelike, taciturn, vaguely inhuman. “And it will be your fault.” He turned to Gordy, his lips trembling.

“I’ll get someone to pick that up for you, Dad,” Gordy said smoothly. “You want me just to kill everyone? Just you and me living in your tower made of glass. We have fail-safes imbedded into each building, so you just say the word and I’ll knock us all down. Done. No more humans. Don’t forget that was Kymberlin’s plan. Not your muddled version...your perverted, warped sense of how this was supposed to work.”

“He’s a variable—” Huck hissed.

“So am I, Dad,” Gordy said in a near whisper. “I’m just not the type you prepared for. Give it up, Father. Just give it up.” He turned to Grant, sighed, and rubbed his eyes.

“Grant,” he continued, “I think it’s time to go home. Not a word. Am I clear?”

“Oh,” was all Grant could say. He looked at the broken glass and Huck’s twisted grimace. “Go home?”

“Yes.” Gordy pointed to the door. “Leave before I let him murder you. That usually involves hurrying.”

Nodding, Grant walked to the door, casting a long look at the grand piano for the last time, and then slipped out into the hall. He stood with his hand still on the knob long after he had heard the thick click, Gordy and Huck’s voices still carried on through the wood.

“Can I help you?” Huck’s secretary said. She was still chipper, but wary.

“I was told...to go home,” Grant told her with a frown.

“Housing questions can be directed to the concierge on the top floor of Kymberlin’s sky bridges. Two floors up. Can’t miss it.” She stared at him and he started to walk toward the elevator. With his back to her, she added, “Have a fantastic evening.”

Grant approached the sky bridge level concierge just like the woman had told him, but he could tell that something was wrong. As he walked toward her table, the woman froze, her face scrunched, and she seemed to undergo a moment of panic. It was very fleeting, almost imperceptible, and yet Grant could see it on her face as he got closer: she was surprised to see him. When he reached the table, she stammered out a kind hello and took a noticeable glance at the security camera above her head.

“Good evening,” the concierge said in a singsong voice. “I’m so terribly sorry...but I don’t know you. And I’m afraid that means there’s been a horrific oversight.”

“I’m Grant Trotter,” Grant said, helpfully. He pointed to himself and smiled brightly, flashing his single dimple and raising his eyebrows in hopes that she would help him. “You don’t have to know me—”

“Oh no.” She flapped her hands, wildly gesticulating, her face frozen somewhere between saccharine friendliness and total panic. “I
do
have to know you. That’s my job. I know all the Kymberlin residents. By name and by sight. Along with two or three interests, who their relatives are…”

“That’s...” Grant paused and tilted his head, “crazy.”

“No,” she smiled right back, “what’s crazy is that I don’t know
you
.” She laughed a high-pitched, obnoxious, embarrassed laugh and then seemed self-aware that it had sounded incongruous with the situation and she let it slowly die. “I’m sorry. Grant Trotter you said? What a horrible misunderstanding. And you’re sure you’re on the right Island.” A statement, not a question.

“I was originally a resident of Copia.” He refrained from telling the woman that Copia didn’t exist.

“Oh dear. Well, then to Copia you must go. No, no, no. There is a Copia concierge. She trained with me and her name is Susan...she would know you. That’s her job. She’s on Copia, of course. So, that doesn’t help us now. But, goodness, how did you end up here? I’m so confused. Was it an accident? That’s so strange...”

“It wasn’t an accident,” Grant said. He was tiring of the conversation, and he could feel a headache brewing behind his left eye. Still, he smiled. “Blair brought me here. I just came from a meeting with Gordy and Huck...they told me to go home.”

“But your home is
Copia
.”

“Copia—” Grant stopped. “I need a place to stay here. On Kymberlin. I can stay with the Kings if you tell me where they are living—”

“That’s private information. For Kymberlin residents only. I’m afraid I’ll need to call someone about this.”

“But I am a Kymberlin resident now.”

“Just a second, please,” she said as she held up a finger and hit a button on a small headset in her ear. “Yes, thank you. I have a young man here who says he’s from
Copia
.” A pause, a nervous laugh. “Well, I thought so, too. But thank you, I’ll wait for confirmation.” She hit the button again. “It will be just a second.”

Soft orchestral music played in the background. The woman swayed gently to the sound.

Grant tried to smile as he waited. He could smell a thick stink of sweat and adrenaline pouring off of his own body and he knew he needed a shower. Was it only this morning he had woken up in the System? Only this morning that Dylan had invited him to breakfast? The hours seemed longer, and the events seemed a world away. When the concierge answered a phone call, Grant didn’t even budge or look. He was lost in thought, watching the elevators ascend and descend.

“Grant?”

He didn’t hear her.

“Mr. Trotter? Excuse me, Grant Trotter?”

He turned.

“I apologize for both the delay and the complications. So, we don’t have a room for you...a horrific oversight. But I’m assured you are a Kymberlin resident now. Such a relief. There is an interior room on floor 10. Room 105. Follow Sky Bridge C to reach your stairs. It won’t have any of your luggage—”

He thought of his lost Romero poster. “I don’t have any luggage.”

She raised her eyebrows for just a second and then flashed a bright grin. “Then I can make it up to you for being so callous earlier and not knowing who you were—”

“But I wasn’t supposed to be here,” he offered in a gentle voice. “It’s okay. No need to make up anything.”

“Fresh toiletries and some pajamas.”

“I don’t need pajamas, ma’am,” Grant said and he took a step away from her and turned toward Sky Bridge C. He turned back, “Can you tell me what room Lucy King is in?”

“Oh, no. It’s so late. I’m so sorry. I’d have to call and confirm and I prefer not to call so late,” she said and she frowned and grimaced. “I’ll pass along a note to the family to let them know where you are staying. I’m assuming you would like me to tell them if
they
ask?”

He nodded. He nodded and nodded, and turned away.

She called after him about sending down a toothbrush, some floss, but he ignored her and kept walking. Lucy was somewhere in this ocean city; the last image she had of him was of him being taken away by Huck’s guards. She would already have killed him in her cute paranoid brain. It wasn’t fair to let her spend the night worried, but unless he knocked on every door, he wouldn’t see her tonight.

He felt like he might, maybe, almost, cry.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Blair entered her apartment on Kymberlin and took in a deep breath. She had never stepped foot into this place, only seen the pictures and helped her father craft it to her own specifications. It smelled like new carpet and oranges. Allison the nanny popped up from the couch and stretched. She lifted her hands and stifled a growing yawn; then she tucked a knitting project into her bag and walked toward Blair slowly. When Allison stopped and her mouth dropped a bit, Blair looked down and realized that she was still in her damaged clothes from earlier. She crossed her arms over her body and tried to smile, to prevent questions.

“Good evening, Ms. Truman. Teddy will be so excited that you are home,” Allison said.

“Is he asleep?” Blair asked. She didn’t try to hide her disappointment that Allison hadn’t kept him awake to see her. All day she had been thinking of the reunion. It was strange how much she could miss him. Especially now. Especially after looking at Darla and seeing her longing and her pain. A real mother’s pain. She was filled with a temporary self-loathing at the very thought of even caring for him at all, and she felt herself growing agitated at Allison’s clear eagerness to leave.

She wouldn’t have minded the company for a little bit. She could make them tea.

“Oh, yes. He’s been going to bed at eight every night. With the time zone change, we had to adjust. Will you need me tomorrow?” Allison said. She shifted her bag up higher on her shoulder.

“Is there anything else I should know? About him? Has he been okay...without me?” Blair pushed.

Allison nodded her head. “He’s been great, Ms. Truman.” She waited, and then added, “He missed you.”

“Did he say that?” Blair asked a little too eagerly.

“Oh, yes,” Allison said. She hesitated. “I wasn’t entirely certain if my job as your nanny was—”

“I won’t be needing you anymore,” Blair said and she offered Allison a tight-lipped smile. “My father will notify you about payment for your time…extra luxuries for several months, I believe.”

Allison smiled. “He’s already credited my account, Ms. Truman, but thank you.”

Clearing her throat, Blair nodded and mumbled something about it being late. She opened the door and Allison didn’t hesitate to leave, and Blair shut the door a bit too hard. The sound shook through her small apartment. The lights were dim, per the evening ordinances, but still Blair could see the small touches put into her living quarters. Built-in bookshelves flanked an entire wall, filled with knick-knacks and treasures from Blair’s previous homes. She walked up and examined the framed pictures. There was one of her and Gordy when she was a kid. They were on a beach. Gordy was clasping her hand and she was smiling widely. She could remember that picture as always having existed in her life—moving with her from place to place. But the circumstances of that moment in time were gone forever. She no longer knew that little girl or that teenage boy or what they were doing on that beach or whatever had happened to that puffy pink jacket.