Page 23 of Land of Shadow

“There’s a green room and a red room, too. And I didn’t even show you the China room.”

“What color is China?”

“It’s plates. That kind of China. Not a color.”

“Huh?”

“You’re hopeless. Sleep with me tonight?” she asks.

“Yes.” I agree easily. When I was still little, I’d crawl into her bed and snuggle close whenever I had nightmares. They were frequent right after my adoption though I never remembered them. The child therapist said I blocked out my memories right along with my dreams. Whatever trauma they hold can’t hurt me. Unlike bullets and sky-high expectations.

Juno crawls into a king-sized bed in an unfamiliar room, and I sink down on the other side, sliding between the cool covers. “Whose room is this?”

“Mine, I’m pretty sure,” she mumbles against her pillow, then laughs a little. “Does it matter? I’m the president. Whichever room I say is mine, is mine.”

“Fair point.” I snuggle deeper into the duvet.

“Get some sleep.”

“Love you, sis,” I whisper.

“Love you, too.”

I close my eyes and wish away any bad dreams.

But wishing has never once stopped terrible things from happening.

7

“Ihave it.” I fumble around in my backpack. “I swear, it’s in here somewhere. Um.” I keep digging as the two soldiers in front of the grand hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue exchange amused expressions. “Seriously, my sister just gave it to me. I know I put it in here.”

“Your sister, as in the president?” the one with red hair and a twinkle in his eye asks.

“That’s the one.” My fingers finally skim the edges of hard plastic, and I grab the badge and pull it out triumphantly. “See?”

“We really didn’t need it, Dr. Clark. We know who you are.” The redhead—whose uniform reads ‘Howard’—pulls the door open for me.

“Then why?—”

“Gotta do something to keep the days interesting. Guarding a bunch of scientists doesn’t really give us a whole lot of entertainment.” He winks. “All right, in you go.”

I frown up at him and hurry inside. It’s bitter cold out. I forced myself to walk to the hotel from the White House, telling myself the entire way that I was safe, that no gunmen were lurking in the quiet buildings or silent streets. The Secret Service member following along a block behind me helped, I suppose. He’s already chatting up the soldiers out front as I enter the hotel’s atrium. It’s gorgeous, far more opulent than it has any business being. Then I see a familiar face and break into a smile.

“There you are, Doc.” He stands from one of the cushy blue chairs. “Been waiting for you. Worrying a little, of course, after what happened yesterday.” He shakes his head.

“Gene! I’m so glad to see you!” I hurry to him, my steps on the shiny tile floor echoing somewhat. “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” I tease.

“Oh, I get around.” Gene laughs. “This place ain’t so bad.”

“Did you get settled in all right? How’s the housing?” We’re in the lobby of what used to be a fancy hotel. The furniture and fixtures are still here, but the bar at the back of the expansive room is empty of bottles except for the top two rows that look about twenty feet high. Despite the glitz, the entire space has a hollow feeling, as if it misses the people that used to frequent it. The blue furniture is turned this way and that, clearly not in the stately arrangement it must’ve been when this place was still in business. But nothing seems to be missing, save most of the liquor.

“A lot better than Austin. Hot meals and a decent bed. No hooligans as far as I can tell.” He looks up at the golden girders overhead in the atrium and the enormous American flag that hangs from one of the top floors. “I’ve never stayed in a place as fancy as this.”

“Oh, so you’ve got a room here?” My cheeks heat at the fact I didn’t know these details. I should know where he’s staying. I’m the one who insisted Juno bring him as part of her first sweep of new hires.

“Yep, fourth floor.” He leads me toward a large set of doors off the atrium. “Labs are down here in the ballroom.”

“Hey, wait a sec.” I stop. “I want to tell you thanks for coming with me. Just seeing you here makes it seem … I don’t know, infinitely more comfortable. But I know it was a big ask.”

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