Page 26 of Cruel Master
The light goes out, stays off for long enough that I start to move again, then comes back to life. I stare, willing it to seem random, but it doesn’t. There’s a pattern there. I’m sure of it.
Another break. I shiver, and it’s not just my skin drying in the chilly air that’s raising the goosebumps. This time, when the cycle starts again, I’m ready for it.
It’s repeating in a loop.
I watch closely, committing every flash to memory. It could still be nothing and would be easy to dismiss, but the timing lines up in a horrible way with Juliet’s arrival and the threatening text message:
I’m coming for you.
The cycle completes again, but this time, the lights flare back, and I close my eyes against the sudden brightness.
Something is wrong.
I race to my locker, grab my phone, and check on Juliet. Still asleep. It’s not enough, though. The digital image could be fake.I need to see her with my own eyes. I dress in a hurry and race to her prison, ignoring the odd looks I get on the way.
I’m breathing hard by the time I reach Juliet’s cell, clothes sticking to my clammy skin. The monitors confirm what my phone told me. She’s safe and fast asleep. Not enough. It’s still not enough. There’s only one option.
I strip and struggle into my Saldar suit. Even if she’s fast asleep, she could wake when I enter, and that would be a disaster. It’s far, far too early for her to learn the truth. The door clicking open echoes like a gunshot, and I force myself to pause before entering. What will I say if she wakes up?
I’ll think of something.
I needn’t have worried. Juliet is fast asleep and safe. I take the first free breath I’ve taken since the weird power cut, and the weight of responsibility I have for Juliet presses down on me. As of now, her safety and well-being rest in my hands.
A hand appears from her blanket cocoon, and I freeze as she shifts in her sleep, but she just mumbles something, lets out a sigh, and falls quiet again. My fingers itch to stroke her fiery hair, but that might wake her. I keep my hands locked to my sides. I’m in no state to play Saldar right now.
She’s safe, but it doesn’t erase what happened. Much as it hurts to walk away, I exit the room quietly and call Kendrick.
***
“How long were the main lights out for? I’m concerned that the generator didn’t kick in. If this happened in one of the labs rather than the gym, it could have been a problem.”
I force down my growing irritation before answering. Kendrick, Jacob, and I are seated in Kendrick’s office, but themeeting isn’t going the way I imagined. “Two minutes, give or take. But that’s not why I’m here. The light flickered in a pattern. I’m sure of it.”
Kendrick holds up a hand and picks up his phone. “Briggs. Speak with electrical. Tell them to do a full diagnostic check of the emergency power protocols. Immediately.”
He sets down the phone, and Jacob clears his throat. “The cameras didn’t pick up any flickering. Just the smoke alarm light, on like normal.”
“If the cameras don’t show it, someone tampered with them. I know what I saw.”
Jacob and Kendrick exchange a look that makes me want to punch the desk. They don’t believe me, and can I really blame them? I shouldn’t have come rushing in here without taking the time to look at the pattern. They think I’m crazy. Kendrick is more worried about the faulty fucking lights.
Could I be losing it? I’m exhausted, wound up, and distracted by Juliet. Maybe it’s all in my head?
Kendrick sighs, reaches for his ever-present decanter, and pours each of us a drink. I’m not much of a drinker, but I sip at it anyway, trying to order my thoughts before I make myself sound more insane than I already have.
“I know I could be imagining things. But what if I’m not? Isn’t it better to be cautious?”
Kendrick taps a finger on his glass as Jacob speaks. “You’re not wrong.” A frown creases his face. “But I’m not sure what to do about it besides placing guards around you and Juliet. If this happened to someone else, I’d come to you and Candice for help. If the cameras have been tampered with, she’ll have the best chance of working out who did it.”
She will, but that anxious prickle returns. The change in Candice’s hair color and other little things I’ve noticed are reallystarting to concern me. She’s breaking through her programming, and while, so far, everything I’ve seen has been benign, what if some of it isn’t?
What if Juliet’s arrival has upset her?
I can’t let Jacob or Kendrick in on this suspicion, though, and there’s no point continuing this discussion until I have something concrete to work with. I force myself to smile at Jacob. “You’re right. I’ll speak with her. And the extra security would be appreciated, thank you.”
Jacob doesn’t even glance at Kendrick before nodding. When did he get the authority to make decisions like this? He finishes his drink and sets it down on Kendrick’s shiny desk. “No problem. I’ll get it organized. And mate?”
He pauses, and I manage an awkward, “Yes?”
