Krystal appeared from the back bedrooms. “What are you doin’?”
Jacob set the picture back on the end table, his heart pounding like a drum. “Sorry. We were just looking at this picture of April and Derek.”
Krystal narrowed her eyes at Jacob and Rebecca. “Well, I couldn’t find nothin’. But I’ll have April call Derek as soon as she gets home.”
“Derek’s phone got lost or broken in the accident,” Rebecca said. “Tell April to call Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal. They’ll transfer her to Derek’s room.”
Krystal walked them out, shutting and latching the dead bolt behind them.
As they walked back to the elevator, Rebecca said, “I don’t think she’s a lawyer.”
“That’s none of our business,” Jacob replied, not making eye contact.
27
Summer and Two Heartbeats
Summer wondered why they called it morning sickness. She felt nauseous all day long. She rinsed her mouth out in the sink and popped a handful of mints for the second time that day. It had been nearly three weeks since the pregnancy test, but she still hadn’t mustered the courage to tell Connor. How could she? He was dead set against a natural baby.
She feared he might suggest an abortion. Then what? How could she raise a child with the man who wanted to kill it? Summer estimated that she was only seven weeks pregnant, so she still had time to break the news to Connor before she started to show.
Summer went back to the nurses’ station. Two of her coworkers were laughing at the computer screen.
“What’s so funny?” Summer asked.
The older nurse pointed to the screen. “The guy with the tumor has an SCS of eighteen.”
The younger nurse said, “I’ve never seen anyone that low. I don’t know how he’s not in prison.”
“With a score under twenty, you lose all benefits. No UBI or Social Security or Medicare. I’m not sure he can even stay here.”
“They wouldn’t check him in if he couldn’t be here,” Summer said.
“That’s what we’re laughing at. He had a twenty-one when he came in here, so he still had access to Medicare. I assigned a bot to take care of him, and it reported him for abusive behavior.”
“What did he do?”
“He spat in the bot’s face and called it an f-ing N-word.”
“They just updated his SCS to eighteen because of the complaint,” the younger nurse said.
28
Naomi’s Secret Weapon
“I told you my guy was the best,” Vernon said, beaming.
“Is it authentic?” Naomi asked, a twinkle in her dark eyes.
“Oh, it’s authentic.”
Naomi sat in the sitting area of her congressional office with her chief of staff, Vernon Hayes and her campaign manager, Katherine Lively.
“This could ruin her,” Naomi said.
“It depends,” Vernon replied. “It’s all about timing and framing. We have to figure out a way to make Corrinne overconfident, maybe even to shame you for something comparatively insignificant, then, when we need a critical push, we release the video.”
“I agree,” Katherine said.
“How old is the video?” Naomi asked.
“I think it’s about twenty-seven years old,” Vernon said. “Corrinne was twenty-eight when it happened.”
“Definitely old enough to know better. What does the nanny want in return?”
“150,000 Fed Coins.”
Naomi winced. “Can we afford that?”
“It’s over half of our marketing budget, but I expect more campaign donations after we announce,” Katherine said.
“Still worth every Fed Coin,” Vernon said, leaning back on the couch.
“I agree.”
“Then do it,” Naomi said. “You’ll have to work with Diane to revamp the marketing budget.”
“I don’t think we should tell anyone else about this, including Diane,” Vernon said. “Corrinne has this town wired. If it gets leaked to Corrinne that we have this video, she’ll find a way to diminish its effect and to paint us as mudslingers in the process.”
“Absolutely,” Katherine agreed.
“And we’re still a go for my announcement next week?” Naomi asked.
“Yes, we’re set for the Monday after Thanksgiving,” Vernon said. “Just as we planned.”
Naomi raised her eyebrows at Vernon. “Are you aware that I haven’t seen a finished draft for my speech yet? I’d like some time to prepare.”
“I’ll make sure the speech writers finish it today,” Katherine said.
29
Derek and the Oldest Profession
On Sunday, Rebecca had called Derek’s hospital room to say that April wasn’t at home, and her roommate hadn’t seen her since early Saturday night. The roommate had also said that she thought April was at work but didn’t know where she worked. Derek didn’t know where she worked either, only that it was a small downtown law firm that specialized in environmental law. Derek had searched the internet, trying to find April’s law firm. He had found many April Murphys, but not one that was a DC lawyer. April wasn’t on any social platforms either. They’d met the old-fashioned way, in person, at the farmers’ market. She was always vague about her work, much preferring to talk about literally anything else. That fact now felt suspicious.
The pain meds and his lack of sleep had eventually overcome his worry. After a fitful night’s sleep, Derek had wanted to check out of the hospital to find April. The nurse and the doctor had tried to talk him out of his early checkout, but they couldn’t hold him against his will. He had signed some documents absolving the hospital of liability, then ordered a car service over the hospital room phone.
The car service had been pricey, so he’d had the driver drop him off at the nearest Verizon Wireless store. He’d replaced his missing phone, his contacts intact, given that his old phone was backed up to the cloud. Thankfully, he hadn’t lost his wallet or the all-encompassing chip card.
With a new phone, he’d ordered a much cheaper ride with AutoLyft, the autonomous car ride service. Now he sat on a bench outside the Verizon store, his toes a little cold where they protruded from his ankle cast, and his crutches resting next to him.
Someone had spray-painted a message on the concrete sidewalk in front of him. It read Where’s Roger?
His phone buzzed with a text. Derek grabbed his phone from his pocket and checked the message.
SCS Enforcement: In accordance with SCS Code 11345-98 you have been penalized 2 points for disobeying the advice of medical professionals.
Your current SCS is 78.
If you believe this penalty to be in error, you may file an appeal at https://www.SCS.gov/appeal/
SCS penalty got you down? Find out how you can boost your SCS at https://www.SCS.gov/boostyourSCS/
His phone chimed. It was from SCS Enforcement, no doubt the robocall that accompanied penalties and contained the same information as the text. Derek dismissed the call.
A driverless Honda sedan parked at the curb. Derek stood on one leg, grabbed his crutches, and made his way to the vehicle. He waved his chip card over the sensor on the passenger door, and it opened. Derek sat one-legged and pulled himself inside, his crutches clanging against the car. He tried to relax, but his body was still in pain, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something horrible had happened to April.
Derek couldn’t remember April’s apartment number, but, once he’d put his crutches on the fourth floor, he’d remembered which one it was. After four bursts of knocks, the roommate, Krystal, finally answered, bleary-eyed, her blond hair disheveled. She looked young and small without makeup and heels.