I groan and scrub both hands over my face. The weight of it is crushing. How did we get here? How did a normal workday turn into this nightmare?
“I hate this,” I mutter through my fingers.
“I know,” Grim says, and there’s something almost gentle in his voice. “But it’s the only way forward.”
“We need to get word out to the public. Just in case we… Just…” I sigh.
“You’re absolutely right,” Grim says. “Telling the anti-vaxxers is Part One of my plan,” he’s speaking faster now. He holds up my cellphone. “We’ll use your device to take a video of Kaine and the others. They can tell their story. Explain their message. Make it crystal clear who the hostage-takers are, who the hostages are, and why they’ve done what they’ve done.” He pauses. “I’ll send the clip to Drake, and he can leak it to all the media outlets. Then we all give ourselves up together, and they won’t be able to touch us. Not with video evidence out there for the world to see.”
My mind races through all the possibilities. Through all the ways this could go horribly wrong.
“It’s dangerous. What if the anti-vaxxers don’t believe us?” I push out a breath. “I like the idea of a video, but why not do it with just the three of us? It would be far less risky. We could doone right now. We’ll record ourselves, telling them we’re being held hostage by deranged anti-vaxxers. That we’re afraid. We should record heartfelt messages to our family and send them to your Councilor friend…or directly to the biggest media outlets on the island. All of the above.”
“I love that idea.” Sally smiles.
Grim shakes his head. How did I know he would be against it?
“It would also be less believable with no actual evidence of the anti-vaxxers. Whoever wants this buried could spin it to say that the two of you were protecting me, or even worse, that you were forced to say what I wanted you to say in that video clip. That you had no choice because you were afraid for your lives.”
“All lies,” Sally pushes out, her voice filled with irritation. “Surely they would know that?” she whisper-shouts.
My stomach churns. I want to argue. Want to find some other way. But the truth is staring me in the face.
“Grim is right,” I whisper. I still don’t like it at all. “They could twist everything to suit their narrative. In fact, that’s exactly what they will do.”
“We could do both.” Grim looks up, his eyes bright. “That way, we cover all our bases. We’ll make a quick video of the three of us. We send it to Drake, telling him to hold on for further evidence. I’ll tell him to use it if…” He doesn’t finish the sentence.
If we all die here today.
The three of us look at each other for a few long seconds.
“Itwillwork.” Sally’s smile is shaky. The color is returning to her cheeks. “It’s a good plan.”
“Okay then.” Grim hands me the phone. “You can start the video. Tell them what happened in that parking lot,” he tells me, scooting closer to Sally and me. “Then you, Sally. Say exactly what you saw and what happened to you. Then I’ll give myversion, and we can send messages to our loved ones. Keep it brief. We might not have much time.”
As he says it, the lights go out, and Sally squeals.
We’re plunged into darkness that is absolute. I blink a few times, breathing heavily. Trying hard to stay calm.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
“This can’t be good,” I say, my voice shaking.
I grip my cell phone tightly in my hand for a few moments before realizing that I can use it. I swipe at the screen, and there is light.
Yes!
Then I look down at the screen. “Noooooo,” I moan.
“What is it?” Grim’s jaw is clenched so tight he will break a tooth if he isn’t careful. “Please don’t tell me…”
My stomach drops. “There’s no signal.” My mouth goes dry.
“We’re too late,” Sally whimpers.
18
Grim
