Disruption (26 page)

He’d always said I took after him.

I
n all the hundreds of times, no,
thousands
, that I’d envisaged, prayed for, planned, dreaded and feared this moment, this particular scene had never occurred to me.

My mouth was so dry I wasn’t sure I could speak.

‘You’re Mr Mitchell. You work here,’ Quentin said. It wasn’t a question. He turned to me, his brow furrowed with concern, and squeezed my hand. ‘I’ve met your father before. At the M-Corp offices in New York.’

Mr Mitchell? I wanted to be sick. He’d named himself after the diner where all of this began.

Dad saw my reaction and the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement. ‘I prefer to be based in New York, but there are times I must oversee things down here. Your father is not going to be happy with you when he finds out what you’ve been helping Maggie with.’

Quentin stiffened at the mention of his own father. ‘You mean, finding you? I’m sure I can explain.’

‘Were you ever a neg?’ I asked Dad, my voice cracking on each word.

‘No more than him,’ my father said, jabbing the gun towards Quentin.

Saliva rushed into my mouth and I swallowed down the bile. Tears brimmed in my eyes and something I suspected was my heart felt like it was being drowned from the inside out. Like a coward, I stared at the ground as I could feel, almost hear, Quentin’s mind trying to make sense of it all.

‘You know I’m a … a neg?’ he asked cautiously.

My father snorted. ‘You’re as far from a neg as I am from the helpless prisoner Maggie here always wanted me to be.’

I flinched at his words.

‘I must admit, I always wondered, Maggie. That night at the café, I knew you were hiding something, but even if you had … Well, I never imagined you’d put the disruption to such … use.’

‘You planned it all.’ My words were a plea for him to tell me I was wrong. That he was not a monster. That the things I’d done hadn’t all been for nothing.

‘It’s a new world and tech is its king. I really wish you’d left things alone.’

Anger started to build and I welcomed it. I needed it to stop the world falling from under my feet. ‘You disrupted yourself! You left us to deal with everything. Mom works off all your debts!’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘It was the perfect way for the government to issue me with a new identity.’

I half laughed, sick to the bone. ‘I thought you were dead, or stuck in one of the cells. I did everything, gave up
everything
!’ A tear fell down my cheek. ‘I hurt so many people, left innocent people behind when I could have saved them. Lied.’ I looked at Quentin, who seemed to be lost in thought. And I knew none of his thoughts could be good.

‘Yes, you did. All to find me. I’ve watched, Maggie. At first it was pathetic, but then you recruited that man and things became a little more interesting.’ He meant Gus. I couldn’t believe Dad had been watching everything the whole time I’d been searching for him. ‘Of course, once I figured out you were determined to continue on your path … well, I was intrigued to see if you had it in you. And then your big plan.’ He gestured again to Quentin. ‘It was smart, I’ll give you that. But your mistake was going to his house.’ He shook his head. ‘Bearing a bullet wound no less. You’re lucky you made it out of that place alive.’

I glared at him.

He didn’t care. ‘Garrett was onto you the moment he laid eyes on you. Not to mention you gave away the fact that you’d hacked his computer.’

‘The mouse,’ I mumbled.

‘The mouse,’ my father agreed.

I pressed my lips together.

‘Your mother had been smart enough to change your surnames to her maiden name, so you disappeared for a while, but after you caught Garrett’s eye it wasn’t long before he discovered who you were. He asked me if I’d spoken to you since my extraction.’ His eyes narrowed and I saw the chilling depth of his wickedness. ‘I didn’t appreciate the interrogation, Maggie. So I assured him I would deal with the problem. And here we are.’

‘How the hell did you track me all this time?’ I asked.

He smirked. ‘By having better contacts than you. Or more accurately, the same contacts – they are simply more loyal to me.’

‘Travis,’ I whispered, hurt by the betrayal. The friendship I’d thought we were forming had been just another lie.

Dad nodded.

‘And Norton before him?’ I asked, wondering now about the contact we’d used before Travis.

Another nod. ‘Though he’d become too demanding.’

Had my father had anything to do with Norton’s disappearance? Had he killed him?

All this time I’d been so sure I had a handle on things. That I was in control of my world, moving pieces around as I saw fit. I’d lived with regret and self-loathing, but at least I thought I’d done things well. I thought of my phone still lying on the floor under the table. Was Gus still on the line, listening to all of this? Oh God, had Gus been in Dad’s pocket too? That thought spiralled and cut deeper than I could’ve imagined.

‘For a time, it was an entertaining set-up.’ My father was still talking. ‘I sent you on wild goose chases to keep you occupied. Believe it or not, I thought if I gave you enough dead-ends, you’d lose interest and leave it be. But then you went and upped the stakes,’ he said, regarding Quentin thoughtfully.

‘Will someone
please
explain to me what the hell you are talking about?’ Quentin was almost shaking. It wasn’t anger, but a need to be informed. Now. ‘What was this
plan
?’

‘She never told you about disruption, did she?’ my father said.

‘Yes,’ Quentin said defensively. ‘It changes ratings. Like a much improved lust-enhancer.’

‘Did she explain what I used to do?’

‘Pesticides,’ he answered shortly.

My father smiled at me and I closed my eyes briefly. ‘Well, Maggie. I can see he didn’t make things too difficult for you.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I made pesticides that taught insects not to mate. To read negative signals from one another and be repulsed. When I decided to start experimenting with human pheromones, Maggie here was my little assistant. The last night we ran a trial, I discovered the formula to create the same reaction in humans.’

‘You
make
people negative,’ Quentin said, appalled.

My father shrugged. ‘I don’t often do it personally, but I provide the ability for others to do it, yes. It’s a valuable service. You’re a smart kid, think about it – industry is up because matters of the heart and the desire to mate do not distract workers. Armed forces have a higher than ever volunteer record, keeping our country and private sectors secure. And our future is protected. Countries with overpopulation, low resources and economic weakness come to us and we help – we can slow down population growth and provide the potential for a better tomorrow.’

‘You disgust me,’ I hissed.

He chuckled condescendingly. ‘I’m sure it won’t keep me up at night.’

Before I could speak again, Quentin took a daring step forwards, jabbing his finger at my father as my breath caught in my throat. All I knew right now was that my father was not who I thought he was. He was dangerous and capable of untold horrors. I didn’t want Quentin any closer and I grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

Quentin shook his head sharply and held his ground. ‘You’re taking people’s choices, their
lives,
from them!’

‘We are. For the greater good, sacrifices are often made. For Maggie’s greater good, you were one of those sacrifices yourself.’

Quentin looked down at our still joined hands. ‘Maggie?’ he asked. But he’d already figured it out. When I didn’t respond, he added, ‘The testing?’

I nodded, unable to speak.

He swallowed. ‘I was never a neg.’ It wasn’t a question. He dropped my hand.

‘And you’ve been doing her bidding ever since,’ my father rubbed in.

‘What about the synthetics?’ Quentin asked.

My father laughed out loud. ‘Maggie could’ve been giving you five millilitres of water for all it mattered. The point was that by dosing out disruption to you, she held all the power. She owned you.’

I heard Quentin’s gasp as my father told him the truth in its most unforgiving light.

‘Maggie …’ Quentin shook his head and started to press the screen on his M-Band. ‘Turn it on.’ When I didn’t move, he yelled, ‘Turn it on now!’

My eyes lowered and I watched as a tear fell to the ground, followed by another, and another. How could I have been so wrong? About everything?

The next thing I heard was the click of the gun’s safety being released. My eyes snapped towards my father as he kept the firearm directed at me. ‘Do as he says, Maggie. Others are on the way and I need to ensure I can deliver a fully operational son back to Garrett when he arrives.’

I turned to Quentin. ‘I know I betrayed you, but I … I didn’t know you. I thought I was helping someone.’ I glanced at my father then back to Quentin.

His jaw was locked and he focused on my M-Band, avoiding my eyes. ‘Do it,’ he said again.

‘You don’t want this,’ I pleaded.

‘Turn. It. On.’

I nodded, resigned, and did as he demanded. When the Phera-tech came online, it instantly registered with his, which was also now fully operational, and a series of beeps sounded. Simple factory-setting beeps, but even so, my father must’ve sensed something because he stood, suddenly intrigued.

‘Well,’ he said, standing over me, gun still trained towards my chest even as he grabbed my wrist and stared at it. ‘I did
not
see that coming.’ Just as quickly he dropped my wrist and moved back, his eyes darting between Quentin and me.

Quentin stared at his M-Band, shaking his head sadly as he finally lifted his gaze to me. ‘It was never
my
beliefs. Never
my
theory about the system that was being disproved.
Adjusted
. It was yours.’

I bit down on the inside of my cheek, knowing he was right. I glanced at my father, half expecting him to jump in with some cutting remark, but he seemed to be reeling from the discovery that Quentin and I were a true match.

I shut down my Phera-tech. ‘I never meant to do this. I never thought you and I would be like this,’ I confessed.

‘And that makes it okay? To make me believe I was
nothing
?’ Quentin accused.

‘No. I’m … I’m so sorry. I was wrong. I was wrong about so many things. I should’ve trusted in us, in how I felt for you, how
much
I feel for you.’ I tried so damn hard to hold his condemning eyes, to show him how sorry I was, how much I loved him.

He stared at me for a moment, my father silently watching on, but before Quentin could respond the elevator doors opened and a barrage of armed security guards piled into the room.

More than a dozen automatic weapons were now pointed at our heads. I took two steps to the side, distancing myself from Quentin, and dropped to my knees. ‘Don’t hurt him.’ My voice came out surprisingly even. ‘Quentin Mercer is my prisoner. I’ve had him working for me for the past three and a half weeks under duress.’ I had to try. It was too little too late, but I had to try to protect him. And besides, it was the truth.

Quentin took a step towards me. ‘What are you doing?’ he snapped.

‘I’m telling the truth.’

‘Well, it’s a pretty stupid time to start! Just …’ He shook his head, looking furious. ‘Just keep your mouth shut!’

I kept my head raised, watching the guards take up formation around us. There was no way to escape. Now, it was just a matter of how badly things would end. ‘I won’t let you go down for this,’ I told him.

Quentin rubbed his eyes. ‘A bit late to start putting me first, Mags.’

A guard stepped up behind me, grabbing my arms and lifting me to my feet. He began to tighten a plastic tie around my wrists. But I kept my eyes on Quentin. ‘Just ask yourself this one question, Quin. If I had come to you one day and told you the truth and asked for your help, would you have given me the time of day?’

He was silent and we both knew that was answer enough.

‘We both changed,’ I said.

But there was no more time for talk. The guards grabbed Quentin as they had me, though I noticed they didn’t restrain him in ties. I hoped that meant he would be okay.

Another guard arrived in the elevator and strode towards my father. ‘Sir, Mr Mercer is on his way. He will arrive within the hour.’

‘Of course he will,’ my father said. ‘Take them to the holding cells. No community,’ he ordered.

My mind raced.

Should I fight? Create a diversion so Quentin can get away?

Should I plead for his safety?

I even considered wrestling my father’s gun out of his hands and shooting him. The bastard.

But my thoughts proved futile as the guard behind me pushed me forwards, towards the elevator. As I passed my father he grabbed me by the elbow and stared at me.

‘You chose this path, Margaret. You forced it when you should’ve left well enough alone.’

I shook my arm from his hold. ‘Did you ever care about us?’

‘Of course I cared. But there was no future for me there and …’ He shrugged.

‘And you cared more about yourself,’ I finished for him.

His lips pursed, but then he nodded curtly. ‘I suppose that’s a fair assessment.’

‘Now you’re just going to let them lock me up,’ I said, knowing it was true.

‘Yes. But I will give you this one gift – let’s call it a parting one.’ He leaned in close, so only I could hear. ‘If, for some reason, you see daylight again in your lifetime, that … rating of yours will be the death of you.’

I half laughed, giddy with the pain of all that had happened.
This
was my father. ‘Why?’ I spat.

He moved close again and I was tempted to just smash his face with my forehead. It wouldn’t do me any good, but it was still an appealing idea. ‘Because the Mercer family would
never
allow it.
Ever
,’ he hissed.

‘I wish I’d never found you,’ I said, feeling another tear fall down my cheek.

Wisely, he stood back, crossing his arms. ‘And I wish you’d never looked. But you did, and now I’m afraid, you’re on your own.’