Every Second Counts (15 page)

‘We’re fine, Dad. Thanks for coming.’ Aaron gave his dad a beaming smile. ‘Is the car outside?’

‘Yes.’ Latimer turned to me. ‘I came alone, Nat. I thought it was safer.’

‘Right.’ No way was I getting in the man’s car. He’d probably take me straight back to Riley.

Aaron turned back to Jas, shaking her gently awake.

‘I understand why you’re wary of me, Nat,’ Latimer went on. ‘I know you must have wondered why I didn’t come forward and tell the world that you helped Aaron escape
from being kidnapped.’

‘You did worse than that,’ I muttered. ‘You said the League of Iron had done the kidnapping, that Charlie and I must work for them. You backed up all their lies – and
because of that, Charlie and I are wanted by the police
and
Riley, and can’t go home.’

‘I know.’ Latimer sighed. ‘I know, it was a terrible choice to make. But it felt like the only way to convince Riley I was – am – on his side.’

I stared at him. He certainly seemed sincere. There was an openness in his face that I saw in Aaron too.

‘Please come with us, Nat,’ Latimer said. ‘I’ll take you wherever you want to go. I’ve been wanting to talk to you ever since Aaron told me how you helped him last
month. And now you’ve helped him again – and Jas.’

‘She’s my sister,’ I snapped. ‘Of course I helped her.’

‘Of course,’ Latimer echoed, his voice soft and soothing. ‘Look, I don’t know what I can say that will convince you I’m working secretly against Riley, but there
are plenty in the resistance who will tell you that I’ve helped them over the past few weeks, providing information and equipment.’

I stared at him, remembering how Lennox and Julius had indeed told me just that. ‘So how undercover are you?’ I asked. ‘Do you know what Riley’s planning?’

Latimer shook his head. ‘I’m not in the inner circle, but he thinks I’m loyal.’

‘But really you just want a chance to get power for yourself.’

‘No – well, of course I want a chance to make a difference, to have some influence over our country; but not by bombing innocent people, or framing and blackmailing others to take
the blame.’

I folded my arms, still unconvinced.

Latimer looked over at where Aaron was helping Jas to her feet. She stumbled as she took a step; her face was drawn, her skin almost grey with exhaustion. ‘Nat, I know it’s hard to
trust me, but look at your sister.’ Latimer lowered his voice. ‘She can’t go on like this, I have to take her to your parents. And if you don’t come with us, she’ll
worry.’

I shrugged. I still felt uneasy, but Latimer was right about Jas.

‘Okay . . . we’ll come with you – but any sign I get that you’re really working for Riley and we’re out of here.’

‘Fair enough,’ Latimer said, with evident relief.

We got into his Bentley. Aaron sat next to Jas in the back seat. She was asleep again within seconds and Aaron himself started snoring about two minutes later. Latimer drove silently along the
motorway for a bit, then cleared his throat.

‘Is Charlie alright? Did you leave her at the safe house?’

I stared at him suspiciously. Was he fishing for information? Surely if he was in deep with Riley he would already know Charlie was with him. Still, he had said he wasn’t in Riley’s
inner circle.

‘Charlie’s fine, as far as I know,’ I said, staring out at the moon overhead.

‘Good. That’s good.’ There was a pause, then Latimer spoke again. ‘I don’t want Riley to get away with what he’s done. And not just because I’m afraid
of what he’ll do in the future. It’s just wrong. Undemocratic.’

‘And you believe in democracy?’

‘It’s the least worst system we have,’ Latimer said.

His words echoed a conversation I’d had with Charlie not so long ago. Where was she? Was she alright? It tore me apart to know that there was nothing I could do for her right now. In a
nanosecond I went from feeling useless to feeling cross.

‘And I suppose you’re selling yourself as the least worst guy?’ I snapped.

Latimer chuckled. ‘If you like,’ he said. ‘I’ve been called worse . . . Er, where do you want me to take you?’

‘Home first,’ I said. ‘You’re right that Jas should be with Mum and Dad. I want them to take her away somewhere she’ll be safe.’

‘What about
you
?’

‘I’m going to stop Riley,’ I said. ‘I want to get proof that he’s used and murdered people just to get power.’

‘Me too,’ Latimer said.

I didn’t sleep as we drove home. I still half expected Latimer to take a turning for Riley’s house. But he didn’t and by six-thirty a.m. we were parked at the end of my road. I
had worried that Riley might have spies watching out for our return, but there was no one in sight. I left Jas asleep in the car with Aaron and let myself in, using the spare key from under the
loose paving slab out front.

No one was home. I looked around, from room to room. It was weird seeing all the familiar things in the house – little details like the photos in the living room, and the piano Jas used to
play, and her room – full of dressmaking fabric – and mine, which I’d once shared with Lucas. I felt completely disconnected from everything I saw, as if they belonged to another
person and another life.

I didn’t want to linger, so after a couple of minutes I let myself out and headed back to Latimer’s car. ‘Mum and Dad aren’t there,’ I said.

‘So where now?’ Latimer asked. ‘Your dad’s workplace?’

I glanced at Jas.

‘We should try the hospital,’ she said. ‘Mum often takes Dad to visit at this time.’

I nodded. ‘Riley will think of that too, so we need to be careful.’

The hospital was fairly busy, though the visitosr’ car park was barely a third full. I spotted Mum and Dad’s car straight away. So they
were
here. I asked Latimer to drop me
and Jas, then leave.

‘What about Aaron?’ asked Jas.

‘Yeah, I’m not leaving Jas,’ Aaron added.

‘Jas needs to hide and your house is too obvious, Aaron.’ I turned to Jas. Mum and Dad will find somewhere safe; it’s the best thing.’

Jas’s lips trembled, but she nodded.

‘But how will I know where she is?’ Aaron protested, his voice swelling with emotion. ‘I need to be able to contact her, to know she’s okay.’ He pulled Jas towards
him. ‘I don’t like this. I mean, how long d’you think we’ll have to be apart?’

Two fat tears trickled down Jas’s face. ‘Oh, Aaron.’ Her voice broke over the words.

For goodness’ sake. Couldn’t Aaron see he wasn’t helping? ‘Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be,’ I said.

Aaron hugged Jas tightly. ‘Oh, babe, I don’t want you to go,’ he said.

‘I know,’ Jas wept, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. ‘I’ll miss you so, so much.’

I stared, helplessly, at Latimer.

‘Nat’s right, Aaron,’ Latimer said firmly. ‘Best Jas goes – and safer for her if we don’t know where right now.’

‘I’ll call you when I’m settled.’ Jas disentangled herself, tears still streaming down her face.

Aaron looked close to tears himself, but he nodded. Latimer cleared his throat. He looked from Jas to me. ‘Please don’t either of you forget I’m here if you need
anything.’

‘Thank you,’ Jas said.

‘I’ll be fine,’ I said.

‘Okay.’ Latimer hesitated. ‘Look, Nat, I’ll give you my number. You can call me later for news about the resistance. I’m expecting a call from the guy in Resistance
Pair Eight later, there’s supposed to be a meeting today. I don’t know where yet. I’ll be told at the last minute. I’d be happy to bring you along, if you like.’

‘I can sort it on my own,’ I said. ‘Thanks.’

‘Right, but if you don’t manage to link up with them, please call me. I can get you supplies, food, shelter – whatever you need.’ He reached into the bag at his feet and
handed me a box containing a brand new, sealed PAYG phone. Just one glance at the brand name showed me it was a high-quality mobile. Ten crisp fifty-pound notes lay on top, plus a business card
with the Mayor’s mobile number. ‘Take this, it might help.’

I stared at the money. I didn’t want to take anything Latimer was offering, but it was stupid to refuse money and a phone. I took the box, the business card and two of the notes, then
pushed the rest of the cash back to Latimer. ‘I’ll pay you back,’ I said.

‘No need.’

I scrambled out of the car. Jas gave Aaron a final hug, then got out too, wiping her face. Aaron looked devastated. ‘See you soon, yeah? And call me – it’s a new phone, a new
number, remember, so no bugs. Okay?’ Jas nodded, her lips trembling again.

‘Come on.’ I took her arm, before she could burst into tears again, and led her across the hospital car park. I knew there would be CCTV cameras here, so I told Jas to pull up her
hood and did the same with mine. Jas and I made our way swiftly through the hospital corridors towards the ward where Lucas had lain since the bomb left him in a coma. As we walked I took the
number of the phone Latimer had just given me and made Jas memorise it so she could call later.

‘But not until it’s safe, understand?’

‘Yes . . . Um, Nat?’ Jas said timidly as we entered the lift to the second floor. ‘Er . . . do you like Aaron?’

I stared at my shoes, feeling awkward. ‘He’s okay, I guess.’ I hesitated. ‘But it’s what you think of him that counts, isn’t it?’

There was a silence. The lift doors opened. As we stepped out, Jas said quietly, ‘I love him.’

‘Right.’ Now I felt really embarrassed. I didn’t know how to tell her that I thought Aaron was a bit of an idiot and not anywhere near good enough for her.
‘O-kay.’

Jas glanced at me nervously, like she wanted to say more. Luckily a few moments later we reached Lucas’s room.

I peered in through the window. Mum and Dad were sitting on either side of his bed. Mum was holding Lucas’s hand. She looked even more exhausted than when I’d last seen her five
weeks ago. And surely Dad’s face hadn’t been that lined when I’d left. I glanced at Lucas, at the pale, smooth skin of his face, at his closed eyes and at all the tubes and wires
running in and out of his body. He – on the other hand – looked exactly the same as when I’d last been here.

As Jas opened the door, Mum and Dad looked up. They saw her, then me right behind. Dad’s jaw dropped. Mum gasped. For a second we stood, staring at each other, then Jas was across the room
and hurling herself into Dad’s arms. He hugged her, but his eyes were on me.

‘Oh, Nat . . .’ Mum stood up. All the colour had drained from her face.

‘What are you doing here, Nat? Are you sure it’s safe?’ Dad asked.

‘How did Jas find you? Are you both okay? Jas, where’ve you been? Did you stay at Aaron’s? I was worried when you didn’t call. Oh, but Nat, you look so thin.’ The
words tumbled out of Mum in a sob.

The three of them walked over and for a moment we huddled together, our arms entwined. I was the first to pull away. Good though it was to see my parents, something felt different about them. I
couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but it was definitely there.

‘Jas didn’t find me, Mum,’ I explained. ‘I found
her
.’

‘What?’ Dad frowned. ‘We thought she was with Aar—’

‘She was kidnapped,’ I interrupted.

Mum gasped again. ‘No, please God,
no.
’

Jas quickly explained how she’d been taken by Riley’s men. I took up the story, describing how Aaron had called me and I’d gone to rescue her.

‘But why didn’t you call
us
?’ Dad asked.

I looked at him. With a jolt I realised I was actually a centimetre or two taller than him now. When had
that
happened? I’d been taller than Mum for ages now, but not Dad. I
remembered Lucas – who of course had shot past Dad soon after he turned fourteen – teasing me about my height, or lack of it, when I was a kid.

‘Nat, why didn’t you tell us what was going on?’ Dad insisted.

‘Nat didn’t want you to worry,’ Jas offered timidly.

‘But—’ Dad started.

‘There’s no time to talk,’ I said flatly. ‘Jas and Aaron and I got away, but Riley wants us dead. He was using Jas to get to me, but now she’s a witness to what
he’s done. She’s in as much danger as I am. You need to take her away somewhere, keep her safe while I get it sorted.’

‘Get it
sorted
?’ Dad echoed, his forehead etched with a frown. ‘How can you get Roman Riley
sorted
? What can you do, alone?’

‘I’m
not
alone,’ I said. ‘There’s a resistance. Aaron’s dad is part of it.’ I stopped. The truth was that the resistance was weak and
disorganised – and I still couldn’t really be sure of Latimer. I knew I could trust Parveen, but I had no idea what had happened to her. Which left just me and Charlie – and what
could two teenagers do against the cleverest, most ruthless politician in the country? ‘That doesn’t matter right now,’ I went on. ‘What counts is you protecting Jas. You
have
to take her away somewhere safe.’

Dad nodded. But Mum looked horrified. She indicated the hospital bed behind us, where Lucas lay, pale and still as ever.

‘What about him?’ she said. ‘The doctors say he’s been showing signs of altered consciousness, that his condition is changing.’

‘Doesn’t mean he’s going to wake up, love,’ Dad said wearily and I sensed this was a conversation my parents had had more than once in the past few weeks.

Mum looked at him, then at Jas and me. ‘I can’t leave your brother,’ she said, her mouth trembling. ‘He needs me.’

There was a silence.

Dad and Jas looked down at the floor. Fury filled me. I glared at Mum.

‘
Jas
needs you,’ I snapped. ‘Lucas is in a coma. You need to get it together, Mum, because Jas is here and
really
needs your help, while Lucas isn’t
properly here at all – and you can’t help him anyway. Stop putting him first. Stop putting your own need to be here first.’

Mum’s eyes filled with tears. I could feel the shock radiating off Jas and Dad. For a moment I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I gritted my teeth. My feelings weren’t relevant. I
had to be strong for Jas’s sake.

‘Nat, there’s no need to talk to your mother like—’ Dad started.