The Registry (28 page)

She smiled, hoping he would comment on her getup, but instead he muttered something unintelligible and popped open his room. Mia’s heart hurt with another reminder of his lack of feelings. She didn’t dwell on this long and redirected her thoughts toward Carter.

Footsteps started down the stairs; Mia was sure it was him and tried to relax, not wanting to seem too posed or needy. She looked away from the steps and toward the ceiling.

“What are you looking at?” Andrew asked. He walked behind her. He had a stack of clothing, ready to take his shower.

Mia scrambled to think of a response but no words made their way out of her mouth.

“All the curtains are closed; nobody should be by. Why don’t you come upstairs for dinner?” The voice, from the stairs, belonged to Rod.

Mia hid her disappointment and was thrilled to have an excuse to avoid Andrew’s question.

“You look different. Like a woman now,” Rod said.

Mia held out the sides of her dress, giving a full view. “Thank you for lending me the clothes.”

“Better to lend them to you than Carter,” Rod said.

“I’ve never seen embroidery like this before. How old are these?”

“About eighteen years old.”

“They look older. Not the quality, just the design.”

“Carter’s mom made them; she was an old soul. Living in a later decade never suited her.”

“What happened to her?” Mia asked. She couldn’t wait to hear the response. She believed she already knew the answer. She looked forward to hearing the love story. But Rod did not have the same reaction; his lips turned into a frown.

“Why don’t you just come up for dinner? You too, Andrew, when you’re ready.”

“Won’t take long,” Andrew said as he entered the bathroom.

It had never occurred to her that Rod would get upset. She wondered how far the version in her head was from the truth.

Chapter 54

There is no gray area when it comes to war. All others are wrong and we are always right. It is futile to face us in any battle. Your active participation fuels the futility and anguish our enemies feel.

—The Boy’s Guide to Service

T
he city lights blocked all the stars from the night sky. Grant stood on his hotel room’s balcony. He found looking at the blank horizon soothing. The noise from the traffic below added to his relaxed state. He was happier in a city but knew this feeling would be short-lived. He could hear Rex and Agent Ross coming up behind him. He was sure it was to tell him the hunt was back on.

“Gentlemen.” Grant turned and raised his arms. “What do you have for me this evening?”

Agent Ross remained in his black suit, while Rex continued to maintain the look of a soldier. Grant understood that they wore these uniforms to force others to give them power. Grant, on the other hand, didn’t care about someone giving him power; he took it. Today he’d opted for pink-and-blue plaid shorts and a salmon polo with loafers. Rex was accustomed to his boss’s style, and Agent Ross was getting used to it, too.

“The surveillance video showed them on the number fourteen to Yuma, Southwest Area,” Rex said.

“We already know that. Cut to the new stuff.” Grant rubbed his hands together.

“The train makes about fifteen stops between Saint Louis and Yuma,” Rex said.

“About fifteen or fifteen?” Grant was getting annoyed. Rex knew he liked straight facts.

“There are seventeen stops, sir,” Ross said, trying to contain his grin.

“Nice work, Agent Ross.” Grant thought it was always important to create some animosity among his colleagues. “Drop the ‘sir’ thing. Call me Grant.”

Grant enjoyed the twitch coming to Rex’s eyes. Even though they were about the same age, both of these men wanted Grant’s approval. Grant was more than happy to dangle it in front of them and use it to his advantage.

“Of the seventeen stops, thirteen have security cameras. After reviewing tapes from all thirteen stations, we’ve determined that they didn’t get off at any of these stops,” Rex said.

“Leaving four possible stops,” Ross said.

“Thanks, Ross, good work. I forgot what seventeen minus thirteen was. Great thing you were here to fill me in.”

Grant knew he was laying on the sarcasm pretty thick, but he needed to keep Ross in his place.

“Tell me about these four stops, Rex.”

“Small towns: Pryor Creek, Clifton, Grady, and Gila Bend, Southwest Area.”

“Interesting.”

Grant tapped his fingers as he turned back to face the sky.

His mind was trying to process the list of cities, run different scenarios. It was difficult because he had never heard of any of the towns. He assumed two teens on the run would stop somewhere they’d heard of before. After his background check into Andrew he’d discovered the Southwest Area meant nothing to him. He’d expected to hear they were in Santa Fe, Mesa, or Tulsa. A stop large enough to hide in the crowd exiting the train. How would they know to leave at a stop that had no cameras? There was only one way.

“They’re still getting help,” Grant said. “The Southeast Area was never the intended stop. He’s clever; he would have found a way to meet up at the rendezvous. Did this train go through there?”

“No,” Rex said. “But you heard the boy say track five.”

“I know what I heard,” Grant said. “Maybe he noticed me before he spoke and lied. This isn’t a case of two freaked-out fugitives getting on the first train possible. This is two travelers with tickets who made it to their intended destination. Get me everything you can on these four towns.”

Rex and Ross left the room. Grant didn’t understand how that boy had managed to outsmart him like this, but he would pay. Grant licked his lips at the thought of bringing this treacherous thief to justice. Personal justice first.

“Mr. Marsden, did you need someone to bounce ideas off of?” Leonard knocked on the door.

“I don’t know what gave you that idea,” Grant said. The old man hadn’t proved much help. His main purpose was clearance. Then Grant had an idea. “Wait.”

“Have you decided to release the boy’s picture?”

This was Leonard’s go-to suggestion.

“Not to the public, but to all RAG offices operating around the four towns I’ve narrowed their location down to. I still think there’s a chance he might not flee with her, but if we plaster his face everywhere we can kiss his reporting for duty good-bye,” Grant said. “Give her picture to every border station.”

“But almost nobody who’s sneaking into a country goes through the front door; she’ll try to hop the fence.”

It was obvious that years of being head of an office had driven Leonard to hate the exciting or unpredictable. Grant knew Leonard wished he wasn’t taking such an active role in the investigation, but he didn’t care; this was his wife and his fun.

“I think she has professional help, and professionals have a way of accomplishing things,” Grant said. “I too am a professional, so why don’t you just do what I say and drop this little charade?”

Grant turned back to looking out from his balcony. He heard Leonard get up and leave. Maybe the old man was right; releasing Andrew’s picture would allow the public to call it in if his face was sighted. But it would also keep him hidden. If the people helping them were willing to hide a girl, it would be just as easy to hide a boy. No, Grant was right. It was better to give them a sense of safety.

Chapter 55

Unmarried females are not allowed to leave the country; however, upon marriage it is at the discretion of the husband if he wishes to show his wife other parts of the world. She may travel to beautiful beaches, swim in exotic oceans, and experience other cultures, all under the protection of her husband.

—The Registry Guide for Girls

D
inner was more processed takeout food. Mia wished she could cook a real meal for everyone, but Rod never wanted her upstairs alone. She gobbled the greasy burger down and focused on the conversation. It was light and whimsical, with Rod retelling stories about silly things Carter had done as a baby. All four of them were in hysterics by the end of the meal. As the laughter died, Rod’s soft expression went hard.

“I hate to bring the evening down to a sour note,” Rod said.

“Then don’t!” Carter said. His voice was filled with cheer.

Mia and Andrew said nothing but looked at Rod with focus. Mia knew that what he was about to say related to their journey. Carter seemed to pick up on the fact that no one wanted to keep joking and sank down in his chair.

“We should be good to head down in three weeks. The weather patterns are breaking a little so it shouldn’t be too hot. I’m working on having some fake papers drawn up for all of us. Mia and I will head down in the roadster. She’ll be playing the role of the happy new wife I’m taking on a honeymoon.”

Mia thought about the Sam’s Spot ads she had seen earlier that day. It made perfect sense to go under that cover.

“Carter and Andrew will follow in the truck. They’ll be recently released soldiers looking to let off some steam,” Rod said.

“You’re crossing?” Mia asked.

She shot her eyes toward Andrew. He had always been so adamant about service. It was a bit much to take that he had changed his mind. She’d wished so hard that he would cross with her, but now Mia wondered why; she didn’t dare think it could be for her.

“It’s too dangerous for me now. I don’t have any other choice.”

Any hope Mia had for Andrew to return her feelings went right out the door. This was no grand gesture. This was just another reminder of how she’d ruined his life.

“It’s important you play the part. We are going to spend a lot of time going over the things a soldier should know. If they doubt you for a second they might check your papers. It is important you are convincing enough that they let you stroll right through,” Rod said.

“What if they check the papers?” Mia asked.

“Best-case scenario, they think the scanner is broken and send them through anyway. Worst-case scenario, Andrew and Carter are arrested and tried for treason.”

“What about us?” Mia asked again.

“They’ll never check us. We’re each playing a role we’re familiar with, and that fancy red car screams rich man with a young wife. I’m not worried about getting through at all.”

“What happens once we’re on the other side?” Andrew asked. “Where will you take us?”

“I’ve been doing some thinking on that. I wanted to bring it up to Carter alone, but maybe this is better. We used to help a lot of people across, but the last several years it has slowed down. You two are the first in a couple years. I think we should relocate down south, too. Maybe the four of us can stick together for a while, till we figure out where we’re going.”

“So now there are four of us living dangerously in Mexico? I heard they don’t like Americans too much,” Andrew said.

“Well, they’re fine with vacationers. We just couldn’t try to get jobs or set up shop. We’d get deported right back up here,” Rod said. “I don’t have everything worked out yet, but I will before we leave, and everything will be okay. I promise.”

Mia tried to read the expressions around the table. Carter looked thrilled with the idea. Rod was smiling at his son’s obvious acceptance of the plan. Andrew’s face remained blank, unmoving, and emotionless, like normal. She sighed and smiled, showing Rod and Carter she backed the idea. It was always safer in a group.

“When should Carter and I start learning about acting the part of the soldier?” Andrew asked. His voice remained monotone.

“I’m all good,” Carter said.

He pushed his chair away from the table and placed his arms behind his head.

Andrew glowered at his arrogance. Mia was shocked Carter was able to get a rise out of him at all.

“I’ve been training Carter for years,” Rod said.

Without missing a beat, Carter dropped all expression from his face, rose and made his body as still as possible, sat back down with perfect posture, and began eating his food, back straight, head up the entire time. It was clear he had a lot of discipline. Mia was impressed.

“Now, I’ve only got a couple of weeks to teach you some tricks, so we won’t cover eating like a serviceman,” Rod said. He laughed a little and slapped his son on the back. “But from here on out we will spend most of our free time working on this stuff. Starting tonight.”

“I’d like to learn too,” Mia said. “I mean, not the formal stuff; I just want to know how to defend myself a little better.”

“Sorry, it’s not that kind of training; more like how to talk or answer questions like a serviceman. A newly released one has a different outlook on life, older, more mature,” Rod said.

“Like finishing school?”

Carter tried to choke back a laugh, while Andrew’s eyes were on fire. It seemed like Mia had struck a nerve.

“How about I go over some basic defense moves with you? While Andrew brushes up on his etiquette,” Carter said.

Mia was nervous about spending time with him after this afternoon. He was so forward. But happiness spewed forth from him, and it was infectious. She nodded, reminding herself to take Andrew off her brain.

“Great. You two go in the basement. Andrew and I will start work up here.” Rod was pleased with the arrangement.

It took only a glimpse for Mia to see Andrew did not share Rod’s sentiment.

T
he shorts were too small; Mia found herself trying to pull them down. They felt more like underwear. The shirt was too baggy. It fell lower than the shorts. She knew she looked ridiculous, but Carter had demanded she change into something she could move more easily in, and his mother had not enjoyed sweatpants the way Mia did.

She pushed open the bedroom door to see Carter waiting. He had already moved the pool table to the side and laid down some mats. She could feel his eyes running up and down her body.

“You should just dress like that all the time. You’d stop any attacker dead in his tracks.”