Page 86 of Blind Prophet

“I hear Caroline’s still with you.”

“Did you plant listening devices in my home?” I pull up the security dashboard on my phone, scanning the latest RF sweep results. The quantum encryption system I had installed last quarter should make any surveillance attempts futile, but Nick’s always been creative. “Jensen swept the place last week, but you’ve always enjoyed a challenge.”

He chuckles.

The fucker.

“Not me, mate. Our mutual acquaintances aren’t so quick to absolve you of misdeeds. Your lady reported it in. Boomeranged to me for verification.”

So Caroline is his source. Should I be annoyed at that?

“Why didn’t you tell me about your father?”

You didn’t ask,is on the tip of my tongue, but instead, I share the truth. “Happened slowly. I was protecting him. And he still has lucid days.” Although, if I’m honest, it’s more lucid moments.

“Hmm.”

The noise that comes across the line is loaded. “What do you mean by that?”

“If he’s got his head on straight some days…”

“You already said you determined neither of us?—”

“Right. Right. Still, someone’s out there. Alliance member or not, these are black times. If I were you, I’d keep her there.”

“From your lips to god’s ear.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

“Hey, cock twit, time to think with your bigger brain. My warning has nothing to do with the fact that you never got over your ex. If Armageddon breaks, she’s in one of the safest places she can be.”

“Is it that bad?” In my mind, it’s all posturing. No one’s really going to do something that would bring about catastrophe. All of my sources agree. Those in power have too much vested in the market.

“Someone’s casting a lot of shade. Tensions between governments are rising. I’d say we’re about two incidents away from escalation to a world war.”

I pull up the latest satellite telemetry on my phone. Three of our birds over the Pacific reported anomalous signals last week. Could be nothing—solar flares mess with the equipment all the time—but coincidences make me uneasy. Especially when they align with Nick’s networks picking up chatter.

“And you believe it's someone from the alliance?”

The unofficial consortium of tech billionaires and industry titans that meets quarterly in places like Davos and Singapore didn’t believe we’re in any more danger than normal, and also believed what we’re seeing is more or less business as usual. But I’ve had moments where my concerns have risen exponentially. I turn to rational minds to calm my nerves. Reality is, it’s hard to trust anyone when the global telecommunications infrastructure is a chess piece, as much as I want to trust that all is good.

“My sources claim it’s not Russia,” Nick says.

“How good are your sources?”

“That’s always the question, isn’t it?”

CHAPTER20

CAROLINE

Beyond the guest bathroom’s picture window, the floodlights cast a warm glow over a delicate blanket that has fallen over the nearby tree limbs. The soaking tub is positioned in front of the window and sits on heated tile in an open wet room shower. Thick white towels are piled on a dark wood table, and glass bottles with bath salts, matches, and candles line shelves tucked within the wall.

Weariness nips at my limbs, as does a chill.

I twist the faucet, letting steaming hot water fill the ceramic basin. My brain hasn’t clicked back on entirely, but misgivings seep in all the same.

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