Toys

Chapter 90

President Hughes Jacklin glared at us with obvious High Elite rage via hologram from his penthouse-which, right now, was floating somewhere above New Lake City. The luxurious six-room penthouse was actually an aircraft that took off from the roof of the presidential mansion on ceremonial occasions. It cruised the skies as a dazzling and, frankly, obnoxious reminder of Elite power and arrogance and control.

“Moore was killed by a human terrorist?” Jacklin said angrily. “Right there inside Agency Headquarters?” Standing behind the president was-as usual-the huge bodyguard Devlin, who looked nearly as pissed as his boss.

“I’m afraid so, sir,” McGill said, hunching his burly shoulders like a schoolboy getting a scolding from the headmaster. What a toad he was; what a dangerous toad though.

I waited tensely, expecting Jacklin to demand a full account-from me-and raise the legitimate question of why Lucy had let me escape. It certainly wasn’t lost on Lizbeth and McGill. I had already been interrogated on the matter-twice.

But right now the president seemed more annoyed at being interrupted than upset by the news of the Agency head’s death. He had a much more important subject on his mind-7-4 Day.

“It was Moore’s job to keep those despicable bastards down,” he growled. “If he wasn’t dead, I’d fire him. This attack shows unthinkable weakness and vulnerability, at the worst possible time.”

He glanced over his shoulder into a large reception room, where a 7–4 Day meeting was in progress. His chief advisers were present. I recognized guests who were among the world’s most influential Elites, dignitaries and military leaders I had rubbed elbows with in the past.

Whatever was going on at the high-level meeting, President Jacklin obviously wanted to get back to it. The other leaders were busily placing differently colored markers on a large table that held a map of the world.

“All right, keep the Agency bombing quiet for now,” he said. “These next few days are going to be insane enough without that kind of news leaking out. We’ll sort out the details later. You haven’t heard the last about this from me.”

“Sir, I’m afraid the Agency of Change is going to need an acting chief,” Lizbeth interjected smoothly. “If I might make a recommendation-I don’t believe you could do better than Senior Agent McGill. He wasn’t responsible for the bombing, but he’s held everything together since then.”

McGill? I almost choked! He was definitely mean enough, but he had nowhere near the level of sophistication to supervise the organization. Even though I would have been a stronger choice, Lizbeth acted like I wasn’t even there. So what did that tell me about my wife?

The president nodded impatiently-he had other things on his mind. Like the imminent extermination of every human on the earth.

“Recommendation accepted,” he said. “On a temporary basis. Just make damned sure you do a better job than your predecessor. Now do your job!”

“Yes, sir!” McGill said, saluting. The gesture in itself made me gag.

The hologram faded with the president striding away to rejoin his scary conspirators. By now, I’d realized what the subject must be. The top Elites were dividing up the human world, country by country. Those bastards were getting ready to take over the vast sections of the earth that would soon be deserted.

Lizbeth turned to me. Was that a tear I saw in her eye? God, she was good! “You do understand why I couldn’t recommend you, don’t you, Hays?” she said. “You’re my husband. It wouldn’t have been right.”

“Besides, you’re too valuable in the field,” McGill added. “You know that, Hays. And you’ve been injured recently. You understand?”

I understood, all right, but I had to keep pushing on with the charade.

“Don’t worry, the Agency job’s the last thing in the world I’d want,” I said. Then I started toward the door. “I’m going home to get some rest. I need to recharge. The big day is almost here. I’m sure it will be worth the wait.”

I could feel the two of them hesitate-they wanted to keep tabs on me. But they were also wrapped up in their newfound power, and what it would mean for them once the humans were eliminated. Every high-ranking Elite would become more powerful, and probably wealthy beyond imagining.

“You’ve earned it, darling,” Lizbeth finally said. “Wait home for me, OK? I won’t be long.”

Once outside the Agency building, I jumped in my car and sped straight across the city-to the human slums.

Go home, like hell.