Edgewood Series: Books 1 - 3 (79 page)

“I’m not sure my mom will be okay with that,” Mallory said. “She sort of had it all planned out day by day.” She extended her fingers and frowned.

Dr. Wentworth assured her that parental permission would be their department. “Believe me,” she said dryly, “what your mom has to say on this subject is the least of my worries. You’re going, regardless.”

“Why are we going so soon?” Jameson asked.

Dr. Wentworth said, “As you’re aware, the original mission entailed the three of you attending the annual Presidential Bash in Washington D.C. to provide added protection for the President and her daughter in the event the Associates try to harm either one of them. The Bash is one of the biggest social events of the year. To cancel it is out of the question.”

“Canceling isn’t even an option!” Dr. Habush said. Dr. Wentworth gave him a sharp glance and he took a step back.

She continued. “Once again, the Bash will also be a celebration of the president’s daughter’s birthday. As you may know, Layla will turn nineteen this year.”

Mallory said to no one in particular, “I can’t believe we’re going to meet Layla!”

“Yes, you will meet Layla,” Dr. Wentworth said. “In fact, Russ will be her date and you and Jameson will be going as a couple, posing as good friends of the first daughter. Your presence adds another measure of security for the first family, the kind of security the Secret Service can’t provide.”

Dr. Habush said, “Because so far none of them has been able to zap a lightning bolt from forty feet away.” He chuckled.

Dr. Wentworth ignored him and continued. “The Bash was our original reason for sending you on this trip, but recently, there’s been another complication.” She pointed across the table. “Habush, start the presentation.”

Habush got up to switch off the light. For a split second we were in complete darkness. Before my eyes could adjust, an eerie glow rose up over the center of the table. A second later, a three dimensional image took shape, a movie of President Bernstein working in the Oval Office. There was no sound, but we saw her clearly as she hung up the phone, then spoke to a young man who came into the room to hand her some papers.

“You should know that this was two days ago,” Dr. Wentworth said. “The last day our president was at work.”

“She's on vacation?” Mallory said the words tentatively.

“No. She's in a coma. It hasn't been announced publicly because it would put the country in a panic. Only a few people know. Most of her staff has been told she’s unavailable—too busy for any meetings or calls. The medical staff taking care of her is small and is working in seclusion to ensure the information is contained.”

“What happened?” I asked.

“We’re not entirely sure, but we believe she’s been exposed to something that essentially caused the equivalent of a brain aneurism. We’ve been keeping her on life support.”

Mallory looked at me across the table with shining eyes. “Russ can heal her.”

I had a sick feeling about this. Every time I healed someone it felt like a fluke, something I could never do again. Mallory sounded so positive, but what if I failed? I was willing to try, but I wasn’t sure it would work.

“Maybe,” Dr. Wentworth said. “We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen, but his healing powers are nowhere near definitive. And of course, if there’s brain damage, it may not be reversible.”

“Russ can do it,” Mallory said, giving me a smile. “I’m sure he can.”

“Moving on,” Dr. Wentworth said and the image switched to Vice President Montalbo as he walked through a crowd of school children shaking hands, and patting the smaller ones on the head.

“Is the vice president going to be taking over?” Rosie asked.

“Not if we can help it,” Dr. Wentworth said. “Our president is firmly on the side of the Praetorian Guard. Vice President Montalbo, on the other hand, was recently discovered to be affiliated with the Associates. As far as we know he is not aware that the president is incapacitated. The vice president is out of town right now but he’ll be back right before the Bash. Under no circumstances can we allow him to take office.”

“The first order of business involves Russ trying to heal the president,” Dr. Habush said. He was starting to remind me of a hyper kid who couldn’t wait for his turn.

“So Russ heals the president and gets to be the Layla’s date and all Mallory and I do is hang out at the Bash?” Jameson asked.

“Hardly,” Dr. Wentworth said, with a sour expression. “Both of you will be entrusted with protecting the president and her daughter. Your powers of telekinesis might make the difference between life and death. And Mallory’s mind control will be used to influence the vice president and others. Believe me, you won’t be just hanging out at the Bash.” She put finger quotes around the last five words.

“Okay, okay.” Jameson leaned back in his chair and put up his hands. “I get it.”

“We’re also counting on all three of you to watch the crowd to determine if there are any Associates present. Anyone who attempts to approach Layla Bernstein without advance clearance should be perceived as a threat. You have our permission to use your powers as you see fit.”

“The same with the president?” Mallory asked. “They can use their powers to protect her?”

Dr. Wentworth nodded. “Assuming the president is there.”

“Oh she’ll be there.” Mallory shot me a knowing look.

“And we can do this in front of four hundred people?” Jameson asked.

She nodded. “Do whatever you need to do to safeguard the presidential family. Don’t worry about witnesses. We’ll do damage control later.” She gave Dr. Habush a sign to move on.

The image in front of us changed to a crowded ballroom. “This is footage from last year’s Black Tie Bash,” Dr. Habush said. The 3D visual showed it as if we were moving through the crowd. “You can see that the dance floor gets packed on occasion. This could be a trouble spot for Layla who can be a bit unpredictable. If she wants to dance, all three of you need to be right there, as close as possible. Human shields.”

“Hear that, Russ. As close as possible,” Jameson said.

“I’ve got it,” I said. Jameson thought he was such a riot.

Dr. Habush took us through the schedule of the evening. Guests would move through a receiving line which would consist of the vice president and his wife, and the first family. “Assuming President Bernstein is well by then,” he said. Afterward, there would be dancing and drinks.

“No alcohol for any of you,” Dr. Wentworth piped in. “You’re on duty.”

“At the end of the evening, a cake will be wheeled out for Layla’s birthday. Everyone will sing and slices of cake will be made available for guests to take home,” Dr. Habush said. “If everyone is safe and sound at that point, the Praetorian Guard will consider it to be a rousing success.”

“Any questions?” Dr. Wentworth said.

Mallory raised her hand. “So are we supposed to bring fancy clothes…?”

“No, they will be provided. You will have an appropriate gown and the guys will wear tuxes. A stylist will be assigned to do your hair and makeup.”

Mallory smiled so wide I swore I could see all her teeth. The fact that formal clothing would be provided was a clear selling point for her. For me, not so much.

I held up my hand. “I’m assuming the Bash will be covered by the media. Won’t they wonder how Layla knows us?”

“Good question,” Dr. Wentworth said with a smile. “She knows you because she met you at the academic decathlon in Miami earlier in the summer.”

“She met us at the academic decathlon?” Jameson said, his brow wrinkled. “But we weren’t actually there.”

“Layla Bernstein was there, though, handing out the awards,” Dr. Wentworth said. “And Mallory is going to convince her that she met the three of you there and all of you hit it off. Think you can do that, Mallory?”

“Yes, I can do that.”

“Very good.” Dr. Wentworth went over to the wall outlet and switched on the lights. “You will get more information when you arrive in D.C. Tonight’s briefing was just to give you a general idea of what will be happening. Now if there aren’t any other questions, I believe we are finished.”

Russ

I had to see Nadia one more time before we left and it had to be in person because I had a gift I wanted to give her. The night before our flight to Washington D. C., I snuck out of my parents’ house after they’d gone to bed, and headed out to Nadia’s house. Being out at night was like old times back in the days leading up to witnessing the lux spiral.

On the walk over I wished once more that Nadia was coming on the trip with us, not only because I wanted her there, but because I knew she would be an asset to the group. Her presence might make the difference between life and death.

The subject of my life and death was definitely on my mind after finding out my name was on the Associates’ hit list, something I learned after the briefing at the burial vault factory. Dr. Wentworth stopped Carly and me as we headed toward the door, saying she wanted a word with us in private. The rest of the group trooped out, with only Dr. Anton glancing back to notice that we were being held back. He didn’t look the least bit surprised.

“Please,” Dr. Wentworth said, indicating the chairs we’d just been sitting in. “Have a seat.”

My sister and I sat down side by side. “Are we in trouble?” Carly said, with a smirk.

“Possibly,” Dr. Wentworth said, taking a seat at the head of the table. “We’ve known for a while that the Associates now have a new commander and there are a number of changes going on in the organization.”

“Who is this new commander?” Carly asked.

“We don’t know the identity of the commander, but your brother is definitely on his radar.” Dr. Wentworth rested her palms on the table and tented her fingers. “There’s no easy way to say this: I am sorry to tell you that Russ might be a target at the Black Tie Bash.”

“A target?” Carly asked, confused. She didn’t get it, but I did. For a split second I felt a hitch in my chest, like my heart was about to stall. I pushed the fear down, and kept my face steady, the mask of someone completely unconcerned. On the outside I looked cool. Inside I had a ball of anxiety trying to surface. “Really,” I said.

“Yes, apparently they are aware that Russ will be there and they see him as a threat.”

“Are you sure?”

Dr. Wentworth peered at me over her glasses while answering Carly’s question. “Yes, we’re sure. We have a reliable source who’s reported that the new commander was very clear on this.”

“So what does that mean—he’s a target? Like they’re going to take him or kill him?” Carly said.

“They’ll try.”

“They’ll try. That’s all you have to say when a sixteen-year-old boy’s life is on the line?” Her voice was frantic.

I said, “Excuse me. Did you notice that I’m sitting right here?” I knocked on the table. “Right here. It would be nice to be included in the conversation, especially since it’s about me.”

“Not quite,” Dr. Wentworth said, still speaking only to Carly. “We have several options for him.”

“Like what?” she asked. “Whatever it is better keep him safe, or I’m not going for it.”

“He can go on the trip and work with us to heal the president, but skip the Bash, or another option is for him to—”

“He’ll skip the Bash,” Carly said. “No way is he going.”

“Still sitting right here,” I said loudly, my hand raised.

“I’m not going to have my brother’s life jeopardized—”

I pushed back from the table, and stood up. I put one palm out and sent a flash of electricity in the airspace over their heads. The electricity sizzled and crackled, making them duck. Startled by my electrical outburst, the room got quiet. The sparks scattered and died before they hit the table. “If there are any decisions to be made, I’ll be making them,” I said. “I’m the one whose life is at stake, and believe me, I can protect myself.”

When Dr. Wentworth finally spoke, she directed her words right to me. “You have two choices, Russ. You can go on the trip and try to heal the president, but not attend the Bash. That should almost completely eliminate the threat to your life for now. Or, you can go to the Bash to protect Layla and help us smoke out the Associates in the crowd. Our source says the commander is going to be at the Bash. This is the first time in over a hundred years that the PG has been aware that the leader of the Associates will be appearing in public. This new commander is either very bold or very foolish. This is a rare opportunity for us to figure out his identity.”

“I will be attending the Bash,” I said. “Nothing could keep me away.”

“Very good.” Dr. Wentworth nodded her approval.

Carly said, “I don’t like this.”

I said, “You don’t have to like it.”

Her face fell. “Are you sure about this, Russ? Really sure?”

“I’m sure.” I kept my attention on Dr. Wentworth, like it was just the two of us. “Is there some reason you’ve told me about the commander being at the Bash and me being on his hit list but you haven’t told Mallory and Jameson?”

She said, “Yes, there is a reason. We trust you.”

“Oh.” I waited for her to elaborate on this, but she didn’t say another word and the room grew uncomfortably silent. Finally I said, “You know if you’re trying to find out the commander’s identity, you really need to have Nadia there. She can read people like you wouldn’t believe. She picks up on emotions and can tell if people are lying. Give her a little time and I’m sure she could pick him out of the crowd.”

Dr. Wentworth tipped her head slightly, considering what I said. “Why do you assume it’s a him?”

“What?”

“The commander. You said she could pick
him
out of the crowd. Has it occurred to you that their leader could be a woman?”

I felt myself flush red. I had a bossy sister and a strong-minded mother and I’d always treated girls well. No one could accuse me of being sexist. “Of course I know it could be a woman. I believe you referred to the commander as a male yourself.” I shifted uncomfortably. “So Nadia? You see what I’m saying? She’d be perfect for this.”