“She was very critical of President Severn.”
“Did you ever meet her father? My grandfather? Her bio says he served with Severn.”
“No. To be honest, my brother was closer with Marina and Jake than I was. I spent all my free time with my girlfriend.”
At the mention of my father, I hesitate, biting my lip. The Serrano file doesn’t contain a ton of information about Jake Hess, but the stuff thatisthere only raises more questions in my mind.
“Jake’s military records included a section about his marital history,” I finally say. “It said something about a first wife?”
Kallister nods. “Cecilia. And before you ask, I have no idea where she is or what happened to her.”
“How is that possible? We live in a surveillance state. Nobody can just…disappear.”
“Cecilia Carpenter sure as fuck did.” He chuckles softly. “Speaking of other opinionated women. Your father, it seems, had a type.”
“Did you know her?”
“Not well. She was a couple of years behind us in school. From what I did see of her, she was a feisty one.”
I resume my reading, but it’s hard to concentrate on pointless school assignments. I’ve been avoiding reading her interrogation files, but if I’m to truly understand my mother and why she did what she did, maybe it’s time to skip ahead to the more important documents.
I’m tempted to start now, but the interrogation is nearly two hundred pages. I don’t think Kallister would appreciate me being here all night.
I set the tablet aside, licking my dry lips. “I can’t figure it out.”
“Figure what out?”
“If she cared about me at all. My mother.”
A frown mars his lips. “What makes you question that?”
“I know she went to great lengths to protect me. Hell, she probably stole another kid’s bones and started a fire to keep me hidden. But is that because sheactuallywanted to protect me? Or was she trying to cover her own ass?”
“Can’t it be both?”
“Maybe. I don’t remember the incident that Jim told me about—the reason she asked him to take me. It must have scared her when Iincited her. I keep trying to put myself in her shoes. Her five-year-old manifesting a power that could get them both killed. She could’ve reported me to the Company, but she didn’t. That meanssomepart of her must’ve loved me, right?”
“Of course your mother loved you.”
Emotion fills my chest. “You think so?”
“I don’t believe Marina was heartless,” Kallister says. “I think she was capable of love. She loved your father deeply. She loved Julian. I don’t believe that’s something you can fake. But like I said, she had strong opinions. We all have our own moral codes, and your mother’s led her to choose to serve Merrick Redden.”
I shake my head. “I don’t understand how Jim could still love her after that.”
“You can’t control who you love.”
“No, I guess you can’t.”
A short silence falls. I watch as Kallister leans forward to set his tablet on the table. He straightens and crosses one leg over the other, watching me thoughtfully.
“What can you tell me about Lydia?”
I blink at the sudden topic change. “You mean Lyddie? De Velde?”
“Is that what she goes by?” When I nod, he says, “All right. What can you tell me about Lyddie?”
“I can tell you she betrayed me,” I say darkly.
