Page 48 of Longing for Liberty

THIRTY-EIGHT

STATE NEWS: BIG BEN CLOCK TOWER BURNS TO GROUND IN LONDON!

I didn’t allow myself to feel true relief until the next day when things were still quiet, and Amos was working on his laptop as usual.

I did it.

The realization hit me, and I smiled to myself as I bent behind the counter to pick up an invisible object.

I couldn’t believe it. I’d really done it. Now I just had to pray that the information made its way to those who could use it. Use it how? I didn’t know.

Had Jeremy heard? And Rebecca? It was killing me not to know how they were.

Three days passed before I worked up the courage to stick my head in the maid’s office after dinner. Kathy was just finishing up, putting her purse on her shoulder when I said, “Knock, knock.”

She blinked at me. “What can I do for you, Libby?”

“I take walks at this time every day, and I wondered if you might like to walk with me. It’s been a while since I socialized with anyone.”

I figured that would be an acceptable explanation to those who were likely listening.

Kathy cleared her throat. “Okay, then.” She sounded so grumpy and put out that my feelings would’ve been hurt if I didn’t think it was probably, hopefully, an act. “Let me lock up.”

She closed up, and we set out, not speaking at first. Fall was starting to show signs of being on its way.

The air was a touch cooler and drier, the sky overcast. Evening storms would be setting in soon.

I lifted my face to catch whatever UV might be left in the evening sky.

I made no move to look at the drone that slowly flew past us, though my body tensed until it was gone.

“How are things?” I asked her.

“Everything is fine. I’m glad to see you seem to be doing well too.”

I spoke quietly. “And the…others? How are they?”

She paused a moment, hopefully realizing I was asking about Jeremy and Rebecca. She watched her feet. “Getting by. Don’t worry yourself.”

Had she seen me? Worry was kind of my thing. I said nothing.

“If I…” I cleared my throat. “…learn any new cooking or cleaning skills…?”

“Sure, yes. Let me know.”

I nodded, though we still hadn’t looked at one another. We passed the massive eagle fountain, and I thought of Roan’s cocaine at the party. A shiver passed over me, and I crossed my arms, grasping them.

I whispered, “President Wright fell from his balcony, possibly killed by Roan, who’s now in full power of the OM.”

Kathy let out a laugh that took me by surprise, and she gave my arm a light whack as we came up on two men walking. They were still a ways off, but I laughed too, shaking my head at our fake silliness. As we neared the men in suits, they nodded to me and didn’t address Kathy.

A sudden blaring of sound caused me to yelp and stop abruptly, covering my ears.

“The siren!” Kathy yelled over it. We made eye contact, an exchange of fear going between us.

A woman’s robotic voice sounded: “Security Breach. Security Breach. Return to your homes for immediate lockdown. I repeat…”

Without another word, Kathy and I both turned and rushed back, her toward the buses and me to Eagle Tower. My dinner was halfway up my esophagus as I took the elevator.

Had they found out there’d been a breach on the Secretary’s own computer? How good could I lie? What were my tells?

A string of curse words tore through my head as I opened the door to find Amos on his phone again. He let out a breath when he saw me and waved me in. The sirens were still going off outside but were muffled in here. I took a seat primly on the couch while Amos paced.

“Yes, but how?” Amos’s voice was nearly a shout. “How did they get the code? … Well, find out!” He hung up with the poke of a finger, and his biceps flexed as if he might punch something or throw the phone. Once he settled, he looked at me.

“Did the sirens startle you?”

“Yes,” I said. “But I’m okay.”

He looked like he was about to say something when his phone rang again, and he answered.

“There you are. … Yes, it happened overnight at three separate arms venues. I’ll send you the locations.

Cameras were tampered with at all three; segments of time between two hours and forty minutes to three hours and eight minutes are missing.

I have no answers yet, but my men are looking into it.

” He shut his eyes and shook his head as the other man yelled.

It had to be Roan. Nobody else would yell at him like that.

“Nearly everything was wiped out at all three places, weapons and ammo.” Another shout that I could hear all the way across the room.

“I don’t know how! This isn’t some random handful of people.

We’re looking at a large, organized group with men on the inside.

We need to interrogate every person with clearance. ”

I didn’t realize I was tearing at my cuticles with my teeth until I tasted the metallic tang of blood, and I forced my hand into my lap.

Don’t bounce your leg.

Stay still.

“No, I don’t think it’s anyone from Five,” Amos said with irritation. “My men watch them around the clock. And do you really think they could pull this off? It has to be our workers. Or even international terrorists.”

My skin prickled at his comment about Community Five.

All those times he’d been vague about Community Five, and I’d wondered if he respected them or thought they were strong…

how off I’d been. He underestimated them just like he underestimated me.

He believed them, and me, to be naturally less intelligent and incapable of overthrowing their forces.

Knowing this was like swallowing a bitter pill that turned to fire in my belly.

Fine. Let Amos continue to think like that. Let all of their foolish prejudices be their downfall as I listened and passed everything along to the resistance. And listen, I did.

If I understood correctly, three locations with weapons had been looted and were now in possession of the resistance.

And Amos was right, there had to be three large groups to move those, and I was certain the groups consisted of inside workers like me, along with citizens who were never captured in the roundups, and C5 members.

America had so many forests, swamps, and bodies of water to hide in.

State Force could never surveil all of them.

Community Five had found ways in and out of their lands.

In that moment, as I sat there trying to look forlorn and worried, all I could do was imagine those people who had raided the weapons.

They’d surely felt the same terror I had when I downloaded all of Amos’s information.

But they’d done it. I had no idea where those arms were headed, but I internally cheered and wept with joy.

For that one glorious moment, I didn’t feel so alone. I felt part of something bigger. Something important. I felt proud.