Page 63 of The Presidents Shadow

“What the hell?” says Belinda. “How did you know my size?”

Maddy looks at her own outfit—a fashionable yet nondescript outfit that any young person her age could wear on the street and blend right in—exactly like the girls who were selling drugs under the bridge back home. It looks like Belinda and Maddy have been relocated for work—probably because Maddy let on to McCarthy that she knew the green Escalade was involved in the disappearances of kids like Chloe and Travis.

In the middle of a desert, in a locked speeding vehicle, in a horrible new world with crazy people and killers, Maddy invokes her lessons from Dache. If she connects with her mental powers she can control the driver and forcehim to take them somewhere safe. Not… wherever it is they are going.

She tries hard for major mind clearing and concentration. She can feel her muscles begin to spasm mildly, then more vigorously.

She remembers that Dache’s lessons have not always helped her. Yes, she thinks, the power has often eluded her. Yet at other times it has helped her splendidly.

Yes, it’s happening now. Maddy will put an end to this terror.

Her arms strengthen. Her leg muscles tighten. She stands, feels power flooding her.

But then… damnit all… then… she starts to feel weak. She starts to feel dizzy. Her legs betray her, and she falls to the ground. She is not collapsing, but she certainly is not connecting with her power.

What the hell? What did McCarthy and the other goon inject them with?

“Belinda,” Maddy asks, her voice weak. “How do you feel?”

“Feel?” Belinda repeats, astonished. “Like a kidnapping victim, that’s how I feel.”

“No,” Maddy says. “I mean—”

The voice of the driver, on the intercom, comes through loud and clear.

“Girls! Stop screwing around. Just put on your clean clothes. Right now!”

CHAPTER 84

I AM DETERMINED that Margo and I will not sit like two weak and wounded animals after the partial collapse of our Peruvian plan. Dache and Laksa are safe in exile. My colleagues are depressed and confused. Margo and I are in a holding pattern while we decide what to do with the information that Ambrose is located somewhere in Africa. This is a huge leap forward, but the question remains—what do we do now? To truly conquer the scientific capabilities of Glenn Ambrose would take an air force and perhaps a navy of monumental strength. Even Dache—and certainly not me—cannot conjure up that kind of extraordinary power.

Margo takes the opportunity to administer the last dose of the experimental Newbola vaccine to me. It had completely fallen off my radar after meeting with Dr. Laksa, and our ill-fated Peru mission had clouded my spirits even further, driving it entirely from my mind. When Margo mentions it, I offer no argument. Since none of the teamsuffered any ill consequences, I believe it’s safe. I even try to convince her to use it for herself, but she refuses.

After she injects me, Margo sips very hot basil-mint tea. I try to meditate, unsuccessfully. Grandma Jessica stays alone in the tech room trying to trace and track the actions of Glenn Ambrose long after the other members of our group have gone to their rooms for the evening.

Finally, Margo breaks the silence between us.

“We can sit here until the end of time, but it won’t help,” she says.

“You’re right,” I say. “But the end of time could arrive in the next few hours or the next few days.”

Margo smiles and says, “It always helps to have a sense of humor.”

“I wasn’t being funny,” I say. The fact is, I actually mean that.

We remain silent for a few more minutes, and then Margo speaks again.

“You know that thereisan alternative, something we could do right now,” she says.

“I know what you’re going to say,” I tell her. “You think that it’s time to get in touch with President Townsend.”

“Yes, I do. No matter what you think of him—traitor, monster, dictator—he and this nation have the means at their disposal to help us.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I ask, trying not to sound angry.

“Of course you know that,” Margo says. “But what I need to see you do is act on that knowledge.”

“No. I’m not going to involve Townsend until that becomes our very last chance,” I say.

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