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“Just old, not dead,” she grumbles. “Not yet, anyway.”

We walk slowly along the empty street, the sun peeking from behind clouds here and there.

“It’s not safe,” Candice says once we’re out of Gage’s earshot. “Not in the White House, not in your penthouse. Nowhere. They’ve got their fingers in every pie.”

I hold onto her more tightly. “Are you safe? Is Juno?”

“No.” She glances at me. “None of us are.”

“Whatarethey?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if Juno truly knows, either. I think they’re demons. Old Testament stuff. Pure evil. They use her like a puppet, and something bad is brewing. Something worse than even the plague.” She shakes her head. “I thought coming here would be the start to solving our problems. But it was out of the frying pan and into the fire.” Fear weaves in and out of her words. It infects me, too, and my worry—the pot I’ve kept simmering on the back burner—begins to boil over.

“Could you ask to go back home? Maybe say you don’t like the cold? Or that you want to retire?”

“They’d never let me go. Not when I’m so close to Juno. I’m—what’s the word—leverage? Yes, that’s all I am now.”

“Just ask her if you can go. Maybe?—”

She stops abruptly. “Professor, don’t be stupid.” Her eyes meet mine, but then her face softens. “Like I always said, you are such a little dummy sometimes. Don’t you see what this is? A takeover, a coup. Your sister is president in name only. They’re going to use her until they get what they want.”

“But what is that? If she’s only a puppet, they already control the nation. What the hell do theyreallywant?” My whisper is urgent.

“Your guess is as good as mine, Professor.” She pats my hand, and we walk in silence the rest of the way.

13

I’m antsy. Wandering around my apartment and trying to calm my nerves. The next sample is coming tonight. I even left the lab early to ensure I wouldn’t miss Valen.

He’s arrived every night as he promised, but for the last two it was only for a few moments. No more secret messages, nothing passing between us other than barely tolerating each other. I’ve given up on trying to get a sample directly from him, at least for now, and he hasn’t been inclined to talk. In fact, if anything, he seemed hurried. Maybe it’s better this way. Transactional. Cold. From what Candice told me, he’s the enemy. From what Juno told me, he’s not. Damn, which is it?

I stop at the windows and look toward the lights of the White House. A pang echoes through my chest. Juno is there. Candice, too. I’d even like a chance to see Vince in all his grumpy glory. But I can’t visit them no matter how badly I want to. Juno’s warning was clear. But did she know how much it would hurt? We’ve always been so close, even when I was in med school. Even when she was on the campaign trail. This separation is as painful as it is confusing, as it is terrifying.

Loneliness isn’t new to me. But the aching rawness of whatever danger Juno is in, coupled with my semi-exile, is a weight that seems to grow heavier each day. How am I going to handle days, months, maybe even years of this? Of not knowing why this is happening or what I can do to help her?

“Ugh!” I press the heels of my palms into my eyes and rub.

A doorbell rings.

I spin and look around. “I have a doorbell?” I ask the quiet apartment.

“Dr. Clark. May I come up?”

I follow the sound of the voice to a small console in the hallway. Gage appears on the screen, an easygoing expression on his face.

“Sure,” I say. But he doesn’t seem to hear me. There’s a button beside the screen, so I press it and say ‘sure’ again.

This time he nods. “I already have access to your floor, but I didn’t want to waltz in uninvited. Be there in a few.”

Well, isn’t that refreshing? After Valen’s constant barging in, this is a nice change of pace.

I turn toward the elevator doors, then wonder if I should try to change clothes. I’m wearing sweatpants and an old Care Bears t-shirt that’s seen better days. I wasn’t expecting company—no one except Valen, anyway.

The doors open before I have a chance to move, and Gage strides in, a paper bag in one of his hands.

“Hi.” He gives me his confident smile.

I should probably chide him for not wearing a mask, but I have to admit it’s nice to see his face.