Mute (Muted Trilogy Book 1) (26 page)

I’m fine, Mom. I’m okay.
She pressed Enter and continued typing.
I didn’t know her, had never seen her before today. The police came right away, and I went home after locking up.

Are you there alone?
typed Carolyn.
I’m coming over. I can be there in twenty minutes.

Wait
, wrote Jemma before her mother could start driving and stop responding.

?
she received in response.

I’m fine, really. I got a little shaken up, but I’m fine. Jack’s with me, so I’m not alone, she typed. I’m not sure whether I could handle more company right now.

Then you’re not fine!
There was a pause before Carolyn started typing again, and Jemma could picture her mother’s exasperated sigh.
You’d rather be alone with Jack?

For today, yeah. Sorry.

No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t push. I’m glad he’s there with you
, typed Carolyn.

Thanks, Mom.

I know it isn’t your normal day, but can you come to dinner tomorrow?

Jemma looked up at the ceiling, then rolled her head back down until she was looking back at her computer screen.

I’ll try
, she typed.

Bring Jack
, wrote Carolyn.

Jemma glanced over at Jack, who was intently focused on his laptop.

I’ll ask
, she answered.
Gotta go, Mom. Love ya.

I love you, too. You be CAREFUL, you hear me? I was already worried when you were hearing noises at work, don’t need to add any more to the mix. And give Jack a hug for me.

Sure.

Jemma exited out of Facebook and stared at her desktop background for a long moment before opening her browser again and navigating to local news. Nothing had been posted about the library. She scanned the list of recent articles, opening a few in new tabs.

New Addition to Outdoor Recreation Options

Construction has been completed on a new park on Jackson Street. The park, created for families with children between the ages of five and eleven, was redesigned when it was already partially built. Instead of equipment designed to encourage vocal communication, the playground reflects the world we currently live in. The drums and chimes survived the changes, but the microphone toy was removed from the music section. The metal tube that allowed one child to speak across the playground to a child at the other end has been replaced by a relatively basic, rugged keyboard and waterproof screen, set to send and receive with an identical device across the playground. In addition to the standard keys, children can also press buttons showing basic pictures (a tree, a house, etc.). This lets even children too young to read and write to start adjusting to modern communication methods. The park opens this weekend.

—Katie Brink, Staff Writer

Where Were You When…

We’re excited to announce a new, reader-submitted series of stories. As the two-month mark approaches, we are reflecting on where we were and what we were doing during The Event. We’d like your help! Please submit your stories at the link below, or mail them to our offices. Keep stories appropriate for general audiences.

Jemma heard soft footsteps on the carpet, and she registered that her connection with Jack had been firmly reestablished. She looked behind her to see him approaching, and he scanned the article over her shoulder.

“Can you imagine some of the submissions they’ll get, even after giving that warning about general audiences?”

Jemma shook her head. “That’s probably why they’re reviewing them instead of just letting people post.”

Jack sent a wave of agreement. “Did you talk to your mom?”

“I did.” Jemma spun her chair around so she could face Jack, her knees brushing against his legs. “She wants us to come over for dinner tomorrow.”

“I need to talk to Dad first. Don’t want him feeling neglected.”

“Of course. I hadn’t even decided whether I want to go yet.” She paused, looking up at Jack, whose hands were shoved into his pockets, before turning the conversation back to more pressing matters.. “Did you find her name?”

“Not yet. I’m close, but stuff was starting to blur together. I started a program running that should help. Just taking a few minutes.” He grinned, sending a wave of something like sheepishness. “I don’t usually get wiped quite so easily, don’t always need breaks this soon.”

“We haven’t really had a relaxing few days.” Jemma hesitated before she stood, Jack taking a step backward to give her room. “I agreed to give you a hug from my mom.”

Jemma felt surprise, then amusement as Jack spread his arms wide, keeping his feet where they were. “I’m game if you are,” he sent.

Jemma stepped forward, slipping her arms under his and around his torso before she could change her mind. He wrapped his arms around her, firmly but without forcing her closer to him, and as she relaxed, she felt him relax, too. Not much taller than her, Jack was able to lean his head down and rest his chin on her shoulder. His breath was slow and steady, and Jemma leaned against him and closed her eyes.

“Thanks, Jemma’s mom,” he sent, his mental tone low and relaxed, laced with mild amusement and contentment.

When his computer chirped, they pulled apart, Jemma blinking. She felt a little disoriented and a bit sleepy.

“I’m going to make some coffee,” she sent while Jack moved back to the couch and repositioned the laptop. “Want anything?”

“Could I get some tea? This shouldn’t take much longer now.”

“Sure.” She walked to the kitchen and turned on the Keurig her parents had gotten her as a housewarming present, grabbing a couple of cups for the machine and mugs for the warm drinks. She’d just finished mixing creamer into hers when Jack’s voice echoed through her.

“I found her,” he sent.

Abandoning the drinks on the counter, Jemma made her way back to the couch, sitting down beside Jack so she could see the screen.

“The car’s registered to Marcia Blake,” he sent, showing her a readout with the name and address. “I made sure it was her, too, that she wasn’t just driving someone else’s car.”

“Did you look at driver’s license records for a photo?” guessed Jemma.

Jack grinned, eyes sparkling. “Nah. I searched for her on Facebook.” His amusement dimmed as he brought up her page, the kidnapped woman beaming at them from her profile picture. “Most of her profile is private. She works at Best Buy, looks like, so we might be able to find something out there, or we can go by her house. Doesn’t say whether she’s married or in a relationship, so I don’t know whether the house would be empty. It isn’t far from here.”

“Going to her house would probably be a pretty big tip-off if anyone’s watching, though. It’d be obvious we figured out who she was. Probably not something we’d have done for a random stranger.” Jemma studied Marcia’s photo. The woman wore a red dress and had her hands on her hips. Her smile was wide and genuine, her eyes bright. Whoever had taken the photo had captured a lot of personality, and Marcia looked capable of taking on whatever the world threw at her.

Instead, she’d been tossed into the back of a sedan.

“We have to try to find Ken,” sent Jack. Jemma looked at him, briefly startled to hear the words she’d been about to say.

She nodded. “Let’s try where she works first. Maybe someone can tell us who Ken is. We can stop somewhere for an early dinner, maybe make it look like we’re just out on a date.”

“Good plan,” answered Jack, still scrolling through the Facebook profile in search of answers.

“I’m going to change out of my work clothes, and then we can go. Mind if I drive?”

“That’s fine,” said Jack, watching her stand. “I’ll let Dad know I’ll be a few minutes late. As long as we eat early, he shouldn’t miss me. Especially if I bring him back a milkshake.”

Jemma nodded. “We’ll do that.”

She changed clothes quickly, pausing only to look at her forgotten name tag, which was sitting on the dresser. How had Marcia known her name? How had she known where to find her? Maybe they’d be able to find some answers without making anything worse.

Jemma cleaned up their untouched drinks and then grabbed her keys. Jack stood near the door, laptop in the case that was slung over his shoulder.

“Let’s go find some answers,” he said. She nodded and led the way to her car.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:

Not Really

They stopped at the mall, walking from there to the Best Buy in the same parking lot, their hands joined loosely between them. Jemma considered pulling away, but the warmth of Jack’s hand felt good against the typical coolness of her own, and she knew it helped appearances. A gentle breeze blew, and the shoppers surrounding them seemed jovial, laughing silently and mouthing words, a backdrop at odds with the coiled tension Jemma felt while thinking about what information they had and what information they still needed to get.

Jack and Jemma let their hands drop as they walked through the door rather than trying to fit through the entryway side-by-side. He moved to walk just behind her, and Jemma felt his hand on her shoulder briefly as they entered the building. Inside, the people who served as both greeters and receipt-checkers now had tablets in front of them, very similar to what Jemma had set up at her library, with pre-typed words:
How may I help you today?
A smile on his face, Jack walked up to the closest greeter, Jemma stepping aside to let him work his magic.

We’re looking for Marcia. Is she in?

Just a sec
, the skinny blonde typed before retrieving a phone. She typed using her right hand, then pressed a button on the discreet headset in her ear, pausing to listen for a response. After a minute she frowned, then shook her head and typed on the tablet again.

She didn’t make it in today. We’ve had that happen a lot but I didn’t think Marcia would be a no-show
. The woman, Jan according to her name tag, nudged the employee next to her, then pointed at the tablet and raised an eyebrow. The man, short and round, blinked at the message before adding to it.

Have you checked with Kendall? I think she’s usually at their house this time of day, at least when Marcia’s at work.

“Kendall? That’s probably our Ken,” sent Jemma, and Jack sent back a wave of agreement.

Haven’t yet
, he typed.
We’ll check there after we look around a bit. Thanks!

Jack waved jovially at the greeters and then took Jemma’s hand and led her further into the store.

“We should look around some,” he sent.

“Right. Trying to look normal, two people on a date,” she responded, and he nodded, slowing his pace and letting her lead them to the communications section, which was much larger than it had been the last time she’d been in the store.

“So, think we should go check out her house after all? See if Kendall’s there, if she knows anything?” sent Jack.

“Seems like the logical course of action. Is there a way we can make it less conspicuous? Visiting Marcia’s workplace the same day as she disappeared is already a stretch.” Jemma ran a hand through her hair and stopped under a display of headsets labeled,
AS SEEN IN BEST BUY!

Jack sent a mental sigh. “Can’t think of anything. They’re not taking people who investigate, though, right? Reporters aren’t going missing, just those of us who can Talk further. We found out who she was online, and we found out who to ask about her here. It still doesn’t look great, but if we decide to do it,” he paused, turning to meet her eyes, “it could be worse.”

Jemma watched Jack a moment before dropping her eyes to their still-joined hands. He rubbed his thumb along hers once, twice before she made a decision.

“Let’s do it,” she sent, lifting her face toward his. “I’m so tired of being watched and not having any idea who is doing it. Marcia found out who we were somehow, which means she had more information than we do. We have to try it.”

A grin spread across Jack’s face. “I know I should probably be serious right now and all that,” he sent, “but I like it when you put your foot down. You get scary-librarian face.” An undercurrent of teasing affection softened any negativity Jemma may have gotten from his words.

She felt her mouth pull up to one side. “That’s what Jilly calls it.” She took a breath, and her attempt at a smile ceased. “I’m just tired of this. I’m tired of being nervous, I’m tired of pretending, and I’m tired of having this conversation. Let’s just…” She closed her eyes and shook her head before looking back up at Jack. “Whatever it takes, okay? I’m not saying we should go out of our way to get caught, but I need…”

“You like goals and lists, not gray areas.” Jack was watching her, and though their connection lacked the emotional feedback Jemma had gotten used to receiving while he spoke, his eyes were sparkling again.

“Right. So I think we should—”

“How may I help you today?”

Jemma jumped, releasing Jack’s hand and bringing her own to her chest before she registered the jovial voice as sounding minimally electronic. The employee who’d approached them blinked, then gave a polite smile and held a small tablet out for typing. Jemma shook her head, and Jack followed suit, letting her feel a bit of surprise, annoyance, and adrenaline. She felt better that she hadn’t been the only one startled. After the employee nodded and walked away, Jemma turned back to Jack, who smiled wryly.