Untrained Eye (35 page)

Chapter 41

WE ARRIVED BACK at the school not long after three in the morning.
We’d flown back to the farm we’d picked the chopper up from and stowed Kevin
and Owens in Frei’s fancy SUV. She said that Fitzpatrick would be with the RV
team picking up Jones and his group. I was glad of Frei’s blacked-out windows
in the back as we headed through the gate. Frei, Owens, and the POIs were all
covered up in a blanket. The wind had whipped up and the dust swirled all
around us. The guards seemed more bothered with shutting out the dirt than us.
They waved through Renee and I without so much as a glance.

Renee parked the SUV in the garage and we got out and opened the
back doors. Miranda stirred. Renee and Frei looked at each other.

“Keep her awake,” Frei said.

Renee got her out of the car. “Will do.” She opened the garage
door and sighed. “Dust storm.”

Frei nodded. “It’ll blow over. Just clean her up so she doesn’t
look like she’s been out in it.”

Renee pulled her top up to cover her mouth and headed outside. I
watched her go then turned back to the SUV. Owens was still inside. I didn’t
know what we were gonna do with her.

Frei was busy checking something on her laptop. “Jäger is on the
prowl. Best if I head back and meet you halfway to take Kevin. That way it’ll
look like I’ve been here.”

“So I get them both, huh?”

“No, I’ll take Owens. Jäger will kill her if he finds out what she
did. Innocent or not, it’s better we keep her off his radar.” Ursula picked
Owens up without even a flinch. She weren’t all that heavy but she weren’t that
light neither.

“Machine, that’s what you are.”

Frei flashed me a smile and headed out into the dust. By the look
of it, it was already starting to clear. I hauled Kevin into my arms and
carried him in the direction of his dorm. I stepped onto the quadrant and saw
Jäger sitting on a bench. He stood up and stared through the dirt then frowned.
I didn’t know why he was up at three in the morning and I guessed he was
wondering the same about me.

“Next time you get a runner,” I grunted his way. “You can deal
with it.”

He glanced around, probably wondering who I was with. “A runner?”

I sighed as if he was being stupid and lowered Kevin to the
ground. “Told you the kid had a screw loose. Good thing I make friends easy.”

His eyes trailed over Kevin then drifted back to me. “What was he
doing?”

“Following Jones to a nice quiet spot. Didn’t realize I wasn’t the
only one who has issues with kids.”

“Jones?” His eyes narrowed. A ripple of fear made me shudder
inside.

“Are you just gonna stand around asking me dumb questions?” I
folded my arms like I wasn’t shaking.

His eyes flickered and then twinkled. Guess he still thought I was
worth his time. “Where is Jones now?”

“Only room for one of us. You may not rate me no more but I ain’t
so easily swayed.” It sounded like a dig. It sounded like I was offended. I was
glad it covered up how terrified I was.

He raised an eyebrow. “Do I need to send someone to clean it up?”

I scowled. “You think I can’t cover my tracks?”

Jäger looked down at Kevin and nudged him with his boot like he
was vermin. “He concerns you, yes?”

“Kid is delusional. Kept saying he saw Owens. Kept saying he was
waiting to escape. He’s not a full deck.” I yawned as if I didn’t care. On the
inside I was holding my breath and hoping he’d buy it. “He’s a whiner. I
knocked him out.”

Jäger pulled a radio off his waistband and guards came out of the
main building. Frei hurried out from somewhere too, keeping her gaze on the
ground. It drove me crazy how she had to act.

“You called?” Frei said.

I stretched out my back to hide my trembling hands as the guards
carried Kevin off. “Yeah, get my stuff from the car, will you?” I handed her
the key. “Knife will need sharpening.” Again I hadn’t a clue what my mouth was
saying.

“How many?” Jäger asked.

I closed my eyes. Frei walked past and touched my hand. “Let me
think. Eight . . . including Jones.”

I opened my eyes, thankful for Frei’s backup as she hurried off.

“Impressive.” His eyes warmed. “I was starting to wonder if it was
just an act.”

“You think I got an extra couple of years locked up because I was
playing?” I blew a breath out. “You read my file. You must have done the
research.”

He nodded. He was still scouring me. “Who was the tip-off?”

“Worthington.” I tapped my head. “Like I said, I make friends
easy. I like attention and they like to tell me things.”

Something in his eyes sparked with recognition and his smile was
genuine. “So you are as cold as I thought.”

Fighting the urge to run, I stood my ground. “Oh, were you
confusing me with somebody with a heart?”

A rakish grin broke out on his face and he laughed. “Maybe you
still have potential.”

Frei hurried back over with one backpack and stood waiting beside
me.

“Yeah . . . well, I have that effect.” I turned without offering
him another look. I was working on the fact that I would appear disgruntled at
his rejection or something.

“Before you ask,” I mumbled to Frei as I left Jäger staring. “I
don’t know what is coming out of my mouth.”

“It’s your training, trust it.”

We headed around the corner and I fought the urge to glance
behind. “I think he thinks I’m a psychopath.”

Frei nodded, leading us up the path to the villa. “Yes, you’re
convincing at it.” She pulled out the key and let us in. “I’m not sure how you
do it but you can be . . . unnerving.”

That shocked me into staring at her. “Me?”

Frei nodded. “I can see why Renee was scared when she first met
you now.” She closed the door and put the backpack in the cupboard. “I’m just
glad you’re you.”

Awww. That was real nice. I didn’t know what to say to that. “You
are?”

She smiled and squeezed my shoulder. “You did good.”

“I did?” Two compliments in the space of a few seconds. One two
sucker punch.

Frei chuckled, leaned in, and placed a kiss on my cheek. She
sauntered off toward the stairs as I stared after her. “What does that mean?”

What I do?

“Means I like you, Lorelei. Glad you’re on my side.”

I touched my fingers to my cheek. Her actions shot images of what
she had been through, of her dueling Jones. She wouldn’t ever talk about it but
she knew touching me would show it much better anyhow. She’d let me in. It
meant a lot.

Her instinct was to shut out everyone in moments like that but she
was keeping to her promise. I was glad I was on her side too.

Chapter 42

FREI WAS QUIET the next morning but I didn’t need to ask why. It
took me a few moments of just staring at her to realize that I could
see
her aura. I’d never been so happy to see colors before. Another burden was
back.

“You want to tell the students, right?”

Frei raised her eyes then went back to her food. “You got that
from cereal?”

“I got that from how worried you are.” I fixed my own cereal,
wondering if she’d gotten any sleep at all.

“Gala night is creeping up fast. If we’re going to get them out,
we need them and us to be ready.” She sighed. “We need every bit of help we can
get.”

“Which means?”

Her aura prickled. “We may get all the sixteen year olds out but
what about the others?” She bit her lip. “I don’t know what to do.”

“We bankrupt them.”

She met my eyes. “That means every one of them has to be seen at
gala night,
then
disappear.”

We could do that, couldn’t we? “What are we talkin’?”

Frei dug her spoon around in her cereal. “Each one is presented
and passed formally in front of their owners. Then, there’s a performance by a
younger group.” She looked up. “The ones who will be the gold group next year.”

“So we get them out then?” We could do that. Why not?

“
Then
the most talented one demonstrates their ability.”

Uh oh.

“Miranda can’t play nothin’, she can’t play what she had rehearsed
anyhow.” The wrist wasn’t healing. I didn’t know why but it was getting worse.
Miranda would have to play through agony just to get through a bar let alone
fifteen minutes of a piece.

“Which means we get the kids out sooner.” She dropped her spoon
into the bowl which clattered. “And the others . . .” She sighed. “We leave
them behind.”

“Ain’t happening.” I sat and stared at my own bowl. I didn’t even
like the thought of that. It gave me a stomachache for a start. “Let’s work
toward getting them onside, getting them to set up their escape. If we can’t
think of anything by then, we do our best.”

“That could mean we have less chance of getting any of them out.”
She closed her eyes. “Losing one is too many.”

I reached across the table and touched her hand. “We can do this.”

Something electric shot down my arm and hit her hard enough to
make both of us jump.

She snapped open her eyes and nodded. “You’re a genius.”

Huh? “I am?”

She grinned. “We
can
do this.”

Frei got up and strode toward the door. I rubbed at my aching
mitt. What was the jolt all about?

“Move it, Lorelei.”

I glanced at my untouched breakfast.

“Now.”

I sighed. Whatever it was, it made her more Frei-like than usual.
Guess I’d catch a snack on the run.

RENEE BROUGHT THE groups over that morning without Owens. Her aura
did a happy dance when she saw me even though her face was stoic as ever. Once
again, I said a silent thank you for getting another burden back. I understood
her now. I could see her real feelings now.

“Hey,” I whispered as she followed the students into the hall.
“Owens still out, huh?”

Renee turned and something about her energy pulsed. I cocked my
head. It was weird, like she was reading me somehow. “Like a baby.”

“Kevin?”

Renee glanced at the door. She knew Frei had the place wired up
and all that stuff so I didn’t get the furtive look in her eyes. “Being held in
what I thought was a hospital wing.” She bit her lip. “I hope it isn’t the kind
you were stuck in.”

I agreed with that. “He is nasty but I wouldn’t want nobody going
through that.”

Frei walked over to us and shut the door. All the kids bar Kevin
were there. Even Sawyer’s kid.

“Is the distraction ready?” Renee asked.

“Yes. They will take a while to determine if it’s a fire or not.”
She turned and led us to the waiting students. Like the first time I’d met
them, they sat in perfect rows on the floor of the gym. I eyed each one. They
knew a lot more than they had let on. They wanted answers.

“Samson,” Leigh-Anne piped up. “Has somebody gone missing?”

Frei met my eyes.

I plugged my finger in my ear as a weird buzzing sound filled it.
“We got some bees.”

She nodded and walked over to Jones’s kids. “Stand up.” She
frisked them and pulled out the devices attached to them. The kids looked
terrified.

“There’s no problem at all,” Renee said, for whoever was
listening. “We want to run some team building exercises. We’re concerned at the
level of competitiveness and how it has spilled over into aggression.”

Frei nodded. “Scrambled.”

“Both terrified,” I told her. “They have been trying to tamper
with them.”

She looked at the two kids. One boy, one girl, both trembling like
most folks did under Frei’s icy stare. “That true?”

They nodded. “He makes us. I lost my friend because of the stupid thing.”
The girl’s frown was so deep her brow dipped over her eyes.

“Good enough for me.” Frei motioned for them to take a seat once
more. She headed to her laptop and started tapping away. “Signal is to Jones
and Sawyer’s place. Given Sawyer something to keep him happy.”

The students all looked around at each other. Even without burdens
it was clear they didn’t know what was going on.

“Most of you probably haven’t heard me speak.” Frei strode to the
center of the room. “I was once a student here like you.”

Their eyes were fixed on her. I glanced at Renee, her aura
throbbing with concern, with compassion.

“Did
you
pass?” Jed asked. He sounded less arrogant than
usual. His arm was draped protectively around Miranda.

“No.” She looked at me. I nodded reassurance. “I was owned, I was
a slave.” She took a breath. “Just like you are.”

I expected shocked grumbles, anger, maybe gasps but not one of
them flinched. We were just telling them what they’d figured out a long time
ago.

“Gala night is an auction.” Frei seemed to pick up her wits faster
than me. I was still reeling from the fact they all knew. “The highest priced
are the main draw.” She glanced at Miranda. “Whatever they told you or offered
you, it’s a lie.”

Fear rumbled over them. The creeping leech-like cloud emerged into
view. Renee sucked in her breath and I glanced at her. She was staring at it
like she could see something.

“So, here is your chance to be heroes.” I marched forward. My
movement drew their attention. I focused on my armor. I was not letting it get
these kids.

Truth—“Locks was a slave, yeah, but now she’s the best agent you
could ever imagine.” I strode to the left, to where Jones’s kids sat, the
tentacles creeping down toward them.

Righteousness—“I was convicted of manslaughter when I was your
age. I had to face my own fear to make sure the guy who hurt people, didn’t
hurt nobody else.”

They whispered to each other. The cloud was billowing out. I had
to keep going.

Readiness, peace—“Then, I had to face the things I weren’t so sure
about, use skills I didn’t want in order to help somebody I care about.” I
glanced at Renee. To help her make peace with her past. “I had to make the
choice to stand up for what and who I believed in.”

Faith—“I had to believe what was in my heart not what worries
raged around my head.”

I met as many of their eyes as I could. The cloud spread back to
the other side where Jed sat, so I headed over that way.

Salvation—“I thought I was alone. I was scared. I didn’t know what
I would have done if I’d lost her.” I smiled at Renee. “But there was something
I’ve learned, something that shines through when you think there ain’t no way.”
I felt something inside me rumble up and turned back to the kids. “You’re
never
alone.”

Renee stepped forward, her energy shone from her smile. “Take a
look at us, an ex-slave who smashed her lock, a convicted felon who had the
heart to fight back, a protector who had to learn to lower her shield. We
haven’t been dealt a great hand but do you know what?” She took a breath, the
energy intensified. “We’re still standing here.”

Frei cleared her throat. The same energy pulsed around her, like
it had ignited something in her too. Hope. “We believe. We didn’t let fear
win.”

Another ripple from the students. The cloud shrank some.

“How do you think we did it?” I asked. I needed them to
understand. It was up to them.

Miroslav raised a trembling hand. I shone every bit of warmth I
could at him and nodded.

“By helping each other?”

Atta boy.

“Yes!” My voice bounced back off the large space. “We’re going to
get you out but here’s the thing.” I said a silent prayer and went for it. “You
can run now and we’ll cover your tracks.”

Frei nodded. “You’ve got a good chance of making it if you do.”

Renee headed to the side Jones’s kids sat on. The cloud rumbled
over them. “On gala night we can get you all to a place, get you somewhere
safe.”

“But?” It was one of Frei’s group. A tall boy who looked torn
between his loyalty to her and his need to run.

“It will be a lot riskier for you. It’ll be harder to get you
out.” Frei’s tone was unyielding and blunt.

“So we run now.” He turned to the others in her group. “We leave
before they have chance to find us.”

I held up my hands. “Thing is, we need your help.”

“Without every one of you, Caprock will continue to operate. They
will continue to sell people. Those kids younger than you won’t have us to get
them out.” Renee glared up at the cloud. I was sure she
could
see it but
how?

Jed let go of Miranda, a frown wrinkling his brow. “My little
sister is here. Franny. I’m not leaving without Franny.”

“Help us get them all out.” Frei’s voice filled with more emotion
than I’d ever heard. A true plea from deep in her heart.

“How can we bring them down?” Miranda asked, her eyes on Jed.
“They are in control. The way you’re talking, we can’t exactly tell the
police.”

“Money.” Frei focused on her. “If each one of you shows up on gala
night
and
passes, they go bankrupt.” She put her hands on her hips. “You
just have to turn up, pass, and we can get you to safety.”

“How does that help the others?” Jessie sounded desperate to help.
Her aura bubbled with it.

“If you’re there to pass,” Renee said, Frei must have filled her
in now. “That fulfils the contract of education.”

“There’s a window between that pass and you being collected that
the school is liable for your . . . value.” Frei fiddled with the ring on her
finger. “You’re worth more together than this place can afford.”

“Will they come after us?” Ian shivered after he spoke. The cloud
hovered above him.

“No.” Renee strode over to Ian. “You’ll be flown to a base, given
new identities.”

“Besides they will be too busy running from the people they owe
money to.” Frei walked to the door.

The fear cloud shrank further. The students looked to one another,
mutterings and whisperings filling the air.

“This has to be your choice. Every one of you has to make it. If
you want to run now, we won’t stand in your way.” Frei’s tone was filled with
rawness. Her eyes blazed with it. That energy. Hope. Faith. Pulsed out from her
once more.

I looked to Renee who nodded. Energy pulsed off her too. It was up
to them now.

Frei put her hand on the door, ready to let anyone out if they
wanted to run. The fear cloud grew. A tentacle dropped toward one of Jones’s
kids. I strode his way and dropped to my haunches in front of him.

“Fight it,” I whispered, trying to show him every bit of comfort I
could with just a smile. “Believe you can beat it.”

He clamped his hands together. “I’m scared.”

“Me too, Stevie,” Jed called out. “I’m peeing my pants.”

A rumble of laughter crackled through the room. The tentacle
stopped its progress and hung there, inches from the kid’s head.

Jed stood up. “If anyone can get us out, it’s Samson.” He nodded
at me. “Let’s bring them down!”

The lump in my throat stopped any words from coming out. All I
could do was nod his way.

Energy shot from him.

“Me too!” Jessie stood up, proud. “Samson got us this far, she can
get us out too.”

The energy rippled from her, spreading, rapid, like a wave.

“Count us in.” Leigh-Anne got up, Ty and Jane with her.

“If Locks thinks it can be done, so do we.” All four of Frei’s
group stood up at the back, Sawyer’s remaining kid with them.  They nodded to
Jed and the others and then to Frei.