Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
A heavy weight settled in my stomach.
Alec brushed a strand of hair from my forehead. The auburn lock had stuck to my sweaty skin. “It’ll be okay. I’ll be at your side,” he said softly.
At Alec’s touch, my trembling halted. I buckled off, removed the headset, slid open the door and jumped outside. My breath left my mouth in small clouds and iciness slithered through the thin soles of my shoes and into every inch of my body. It was April, but this year the winter was particularly hard in Montana. Alec rounded the helicopter and took my hand. For years, I’d been longing for this moment, for his touch, and now I had what I’d always wanted. I tried to savor it despite the circumstances.
I tugged at Alec’s arm. “Come on. Let’s go,” I said. “I want to get this over with as soon as possible.” And as long as my new bravery lasts, I thought.
We hurried across the slick pavement—it must have rained recently and the water had frozen in a thin layer. My eyes darted toward the building looming threateningly in front of us.
Whoever had built FEA headquarters must have been a fan of the Bauhaus architecture with its square forms; clear and simple without any flourishes. If I didn’t know better, I’d have sworn Major had commissioned it. But headquarters had been built in 1948—long before Major was born.
When I’d first glimpsed headquarters after Major and Alec picked me up, I’d been disappointed. I’d expected an old manor with brick chimneys, ivy-covered walls and stone gargoyles on the ledges of the roof. Instead I’d gotten a run-of-the-mill office building. But once I’d seen the wide corridors that prevented me from losing my way and the picture windows in the rooms, I changed my mind. And it was better than anything I’d experienced before. This time, though, the inside of the building wouldn’t bring me comfort.
I could already see Major standing behind the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, arms crossed, waiting for us, and he looked royally pissed.
I sank down on the glossy, black hardwood chair across from Major’s desk, which was, as usual, spotless. The photos from the Livingston murder scenes were gone from the pin board on the wall and were replaced by a map of Arizona, which was marked up with red crosses. But the images were burned into my mind: the wire cutting into the neck, the bluish, bloated body of the floater, the lifeless eyes. I let the feel of Alec’s touch bring me back to reality.
Alec hadn’t let go of my hand yet, though I’d tried to wriggle free. Our open act of togetherness would only increase Major’s fury. But from the stony look on his face, I guessed we’d reached its peak anyway. He hadn’t even said a word yet. He’d simply prompted us to enter his office with a curt nod. Now we were left staring at his broad back and stiff shoulders beneath his perfectly ironed uniform. His eyes were trained on the snow-crowned peaks of Mount Glacier National Park. But I didn’t think he was actually seeing it.
I glanced at Alec. Maybe Major expected us to start talking, to explain ourselves and grovel for forgiveness?
But Alec gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head. I stared down at my free hand that was tugging at the hem of my black blouse. I couldn’t wait to get out of my clothes. Somehow they smelled of death and misery, though I knew that wasn’t possible. But how could I ever wear them again without remembering Madison’s funeral?
“The FEA is built on trust. And yet, you ignored my direct orders not to attend Madison’s funeral. But what’s worse: you abused your Variation to get your way and broke Tyler’s, Agent Summers’s and my trust by doing so.” Finally he turned, his face grave. “I’m very disappointed in you, Tessa.”
Despite his words, I knew it had been the right decision to say a last goodbye to Madison and the Chambers family. Maybe now I could find peace and leave the guilt behind.
I peeked at Alec but he was busy glaring at Major who in turn was only too happy to ignore his presence altogether. Major hadn’t even acknowledged our linked hands yet. But I knew he’d noticed.
“How did you get Agent Summers’s clothes?” he asked all of a sudden. For a startled moment, Holly’s name hovered on the tip of my tongue and that had probably been Major’s intention: startling me into an honest reply. But if I knew how to do one thing, then it was lying. How else could you live among a loving family pretending to be their daughter without them ever being the wiser? I was the master of all liars and maybe that as much as my disobedience worried Major the most. He liked being in control of everyone and everything.