He swallowed, forcing himself not to look at Maisie again. It didn’t seem fair to judge her by her father, but Constance did have a point. He barely knew Maisie. Or any of them.

  “Got it. Will do. You’re going to run with the video? Now?”

  “Of course I’m going to run the video.”

  “Thank you, Constance. I appreciate it.”

  “You’ve talked to your father?”

  “Let’s just focus on the video for now, okay? I’ll sit down with you as soon as I get out of quarantine on the other side.” He knew better than to give up any information about his father to a reporter without consulting the campaign first.

  “All right.” She sounded amused. “I really hope this works out for you.”

  “Me too.”

  “Bye, Lennon.”

  He couldn’t help but notice that her bye sounded very final, like she thought it might be the last one.

  He hung up the phone and passed it back to Hadley. “Okay. We’re good. Should be on soon.”

  “In the meantime, we need to figure out how the hell we’re going to get through Spencer territory,” Maisie said. “I need a map, I guess?” She sighed. “But I’m not sure how helpful that will be. All our maps are years old. We don’t even know which roads still exist. We always meet the shipment truck in the neutral zone at the border.”

  “Let me call one more person, and I can fix that problem,” he said.

  “How?”

  “There’s plenty of aerial footage of the zone. They haven’t released images to the public in years, but some people who work for my dad have it. If we get them to send that to us, we can combine it with the old maps and figure out the best roads to take.”

  “That’s…a really good idea,” Maisie said.

  “I’ll try not to be insulted that you sound so surprised.”

  “Maps aren’t going to tell you where the shipments are,” Elise said. “Are you just going to go up there and drive around? The north is three times the size of the south, and you don’t even have two days before this one needs to leave.”

  “We’re just going to have to wing it,” Maisie said. “Northgate is pretty small, and the shipment should still be there.”

  “Well…” Hadley winced. “I may actually be able to help with that.”

  They all looked at her.

  “How?” Maisie asked.

  “I’ve had contact with a Spencer.”

  MAISIE

  MAISIE GAPED AT Hadley. “How? Who?”

  “I don’t know his name,” Hadley said in a rush. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but Uncle Franco said that absolutely no one could know. No one besides the two of us.”

  “Explain,” Maisie said.

  “Okay.” Hadley took a deep breath. “About a year ago—”

  “A year ago?”

  “Do you want me to explain or not?”

  “Sorry.”

  “About a year ago, I got this message through the old radio. The one we used to be able to talk to Americans on? Anyway, it was this guy’s voice, and he just said, ‘Don’t eat the queso.’ And I was like, ‘Excuse me, how dare you, I’ll eat all the queso I want.’ And he was like, ‘Don’t eat the queso on the shipment. Trust me.’ And then he just kind of disappeared. So, I told Lopez about it, and we went down to check the queso in the next shipment. It was full of maggots.”

  “Gross,” Elise said.

  “All the jars had been opened. Someone had put the maggots in there. So, we just threw them all out, because hardly anyone buys that jarred queso anyway. I don’t know why they keep sending it.”

  “It’s really not very good,” Elise said. “And now I’m never eating it again.”

  “Anyway, I tried to reach out to him, but he never responded. Then, one day, like a month later, he gives me another tip. And he’s right again. So, eventually, I get him to actually talk to me and not just disappear like a big asshole. Turns out he’s up in Spencer territory. Must be pretty well connected, because he knows a lot of stuff.”

  “But you don’t know who he is?” Maisie asked.

  “No. He never gave me a name. I just call him Queso. I don’t even know which territory he’s in, though I suspect it’s Northgate. But I do have a way of contacting him. So, I could ask. I’ve asked about the shipment before, but that was weeks ago. He claimed it was coming, but maybe he knows something now.”

  “Seriously?” Maisie said. “And you didn’t tell me about this?”

  “I’m sorry! I was going to, but Uncle Franco told me not to tell anyone. And he used his serious voice. The one that meant some real bad shit was going to happen if I didn’t listen.”

  Maisie made a face at Hadley, even though she kind of understood. She knew the voice that Lopez used when he meant business.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “This Queso guy could be laying a trap.”

  “How could it be a trap?”

  “I don’t know! He lives in Spencer territory!”

  “I really don’t think that he passed along tips about queso to me on the off chance that a Lopez might one day sneak up north and he could use that to his advantage,” Hadley said.

  She sighed. “Fine. Feel him out, I guess. But don’t pass along too much information if you’re even a little bit unsure about him.”

  “Got it. I’ll radio him now.” Hadley bounced out of the room.

  “Wait, can I listen?” Elise called after her.

  “Yeah, but you can’t say anything! It’ll freak him out!”

  Elise stood and followed Hadley out of the room, pulling her oxygen tank with her.

  “I’ll call about those maps,” Lennon said, reaching for the phone again.

  Maisie moved in front of it. “Wait.”

  He drew back, looking at her curiously.

  “I need you to understand what it means, crossing into Spencer territory. I’m going to give you an opportunity to change your mind.”

  “I’m not going to change my mind.”

  “Just listen, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “First, you have to get across the border. That won’t be a problem on our side—I’m sure the border patrol is still licking their wounds after we grabbed you—but I really don’t know what to expect on the Spencer side. It looks barren out there, but we see drones sometimes. They monitor the area.”

  “Avoid drones, got it. What else?”

  “It’s thirty miles from the border to the northern gate. I think I can grab us a vehicle, but chances are we won’t make it the whole way with it.”

  “Because of charging issues, or because it’s too conspicuous?”

  “The latter. I doubt we can just cruise down the road the whole way there. We’re going to have to do a lot of walking, I think.”

  “Got it. Ready to walk. What else?”

  “Well, just the fact that we are strictly prohibited from entering Spencer territory, and they will definitely try to kill us.”

  “People keep trying to kill or kidnap me everywhere I go lately, so that’s not much of a change.”

  She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her lips. “You’re such a pain in the ass, you know that?”

  “I’ve been told.”

  She held her hands up. “Okay. I just needed to be straight with you. The stories I’ve heard about Spencer territory are really fucking grim.”

  His smile faded. “Yeah. We heard them too, on the outside.”

  “And yet, here you are, being a pain in my ass about wanting to go up there.”

  “I have to try.”

  “Why?”

  He cocked his head, his expression a little bewildered. “How would you feel, if you suddenly had to leave your home? Your friends? Your family? Everything you have?”

  “Not great,” she admitted.

  “Yeah, not great. I at least have to try.”

  She pushed her hands through her hair with a sigh. “Okay. Call about those maps.”

  LENNON

  LENNON CALLED HIS dad’s campaign manager, who, after a brief freak-out, sent aerial maps within minutes. Maisie spread them out on the table, and then marked them up with some notes. Hadley returned from her call with the Spencer contact—Queso, a code name that Lennon found charming—and added some information.

  Lennon peered at the maps and Maisie pointed. “We pieced everything together the best we could. There are still some spots where it’s unclear if a road is being maintained. But we outlined some possible routes.”

  “And some helpful tips,” Lennon added, pointing to the spot where Hadley had written, You’re probably screwed if you go here.

  Hadley shrugged innocently. “Just telling you what Queso said.”

  “These are the four Spencer territories,” Maisie said, pointing. “They’re ruled by four different Spencers. Used to just be one territory, but they can’t get along for shit up there.”

  “Understatement,” Hadley said with a short laugh.

  “Just north of us is East Spencer and West Spencer,” Maisie continued. “East is ruled by Nash Spencer, West is Arthur. West is weak and sparsely populated. East is…bad, by all accounts. We’re going to try to stay west and avoid east altogether.”

  Lennon put a finger to the map. “That big highway that runs through West Spencer is still in use. We could take it nearly all the way to the next territory.”

  She nodded in a way that he suspected was just to humor him. “That next territory is the biggest one, known as Val’s Territory. Valerie Spencer runs that one, with a gang known as the Vals. Mostly made up of women who fled East Spencer. Last we heard, Val and West have a tenuous alliance, and she helps protect them from East. It’s notoriously difficult to cross through Val’s Territory, but Queso says we can try here.” She put her finger on the spot.

  “He makes no promises,” Hadley added.

  Maisie pointed to the top of the map. “Northgate is the smallest territory, but arguably the most powerful. Ruled by Jonathan Spencer, who used to rule the whole north. The gate is at the northwest corner of the territory, so he controls everything that comes in and out. They’ve built the Spencer compound directly in front of the gate, which is really bad, but there are options for getting around it on foot.”

  Lennon had seen the Spencer compound on the aerial map—it was a large, walled compound that was most likely heavily patrolled and impossible to avoid if you wanted to get to the gate.

  “Queso thinks he can help you get into Northgate,” Hadley said. “But not to the gate. He is checking on the shipment location, though.”

  “And for the record, I’m still deeply suspicious of this cheese man,” Maisie said.

  Lennon studied her for a moment. “Are you sure we shouldn’t bring a third person with us? Once we get the shipment, you have to be able to get it back. You’ll be alone.”

  “I’d rather be alone,” she said.

  “I’d rather be alone,” Hadley said, lowering her voice in a dramatic impression of Maisie. “Always alone.”

  “Shut up,” Maisie said with a laugh, bumping her shoulder against Hadley’s.

  “He’s right, though,” Hadley said. “It would be better if you could take someone.”

  “Who? Elise isn’t well enough to go; you can’t leave the station for two days, especially in the middle of an emergency; and I can’t think of a single other person who would volunteer to go into Spencer territory. Beto was my best shot, and he pretty much laughed at me.”

  “I guess that’s true,” Hadley said with a sigh. She grabbed a backpack from the table and pulled out a radio. “Stay in contact, okay? We don’t know if your phone will work up there, so I’m sending you with this radio. This light right here? On top? It’ll flash when I’m trying to get in contact with you. Make sure you check it occasionally.”

  “Got it.” Maisie took the backpack and peered inside. She smiled. “Thanks for the snacks.”

  “You know I’m all about the snacks.”

  “Also, plenty of extra bullets,” Elise said.

  “And a second gun for Fancy-pants, if you trust him not to shoot you,” Hadley said.

  “Thanks,” Lennon said dryly.

  Hadley and Elise traded a glance, and he realized suddenly that they were worried. Scared for their friend.

  “Listen, we were talking, and…” Hadley took a deep breath. “We wouldn’t blame you. If you decided to just leave once you got up there.”

  Lennon looked between them in confusion. Why did they think Maisie could leave?

  “I’m not leaving,” Maisie said, clearly exasperated. She glanced at Lennon, and then quickly away. “Let’s not—”

  “No, seriously,” Elise said. “They’ll let you out. They’ve said so. Maybe it’s time.”

  “Wait, who said so?” Lennon asked. “Why would they let you out?”

  Maisie opened her mouth.

  “She’s immune,” Hadley said, before Maisie could stop her.

  “Dammit, Hadley,” Maisie said with a sigh.

  “Wait, what?” He looked at Maisie, baffled. “You’re immune?”

  “She’s a special snowflake,” Hadley said. “She’s been immune for years. Hasn’t caught the virus since she was a kid. That’s why you have her antibodies.”

  His lips parted. “Are there others? Who are immune?”

  “Nope, just her, as far as we know,” Elise said. “They think it’s a genetic thing. Her dad wasn’t technically immune, but he barely got sick every time he got the virus.”

  “The CDC has been offering to let her come out for years,” Hadley said. “She’ll have to go into quarantine for a few months, but if she’s clear she can go out forever.”

  “Holy shit.” Lennon put a hand on Maisie’s arm. “They’re right. You should leave with me.”

  “They didn’t say I should; they said they wouldn’t blame me.” Maisie shook him off and crossed her arms over her chest. “But it’s not happening.”

  “Why not?”

  “What am I going to do on the outside? My home is here.”

  “If you really are immune, maybe they’ll let you go back and forth. You could visit occ—”

  He stopped as she shook her head. “They said no. In or out. No coming back once I’m gone.” She put the backpack on the table. “I’m just going to go pee before we go.” She turned and walked out of the room.

  Lennon looked at Hadley and Elise. “How long has she been able to leave?”

  Hadley scrunched up her face in thought. “Mm…I think it’s been five years. She was thirteen, I think.”

  “Five years?”

  “She’s never even considered it,” Elise said.

  “She probably did consider it, at least for a minute,” Hadley said. “I wouldn’t blame her. But she’d also have to leave through the north, so it honestly wasn’t even much of an option,” Hadley said. “But now that she’s going anyway…”

  “She should go,” Lennon said. “Don’t you think?”

  They both shrugged.

  “If she wants,” Hadley said. “I don’t want her to, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that. She should make up her own mind.”

  “She could help, once she’s out,” Lennon said. “She’d be the face of the quarantine zone. She could advocate for your release. People would listen to her. She’s spent eighteen years in here.”

  “Maybe,” Hadley said. “But I doubt you can convince her of that.”

  “I…I think that I should try,” he said slowly. “I know you guys will be sad if she leaves, but I think she could make a real difference if she left.”

  Hadley swallowed. “Like I said, it’s up to her. Say what you want to her.” Elise nodded.

  Maisie walked back into the room, grabbing the backpack.

  “I’ve got it,” he said. She passed it to him, and he strapped it on.

  “Well, I guess this is it, Fancy-pants,” Hadley said. “Don’t forget to tell people how cute I am.”

  He smiled. “I’ll tell them you were very kind.” He held his hand out, but she pulled him into a hug.

  They hugged Maisie next, Hadley saying something in her ear that he couldn’t hear.

  She pulled away and turned to him. “Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  MAISIE

  MAISIE LED LENNON outside and onto the street. Hadley had given her the code for one of the cars in the Lopez garage, something that would not go over well with the family. She was taking an “ask for forgiveness later” approach to this whole thing.

  The garage was about a mile away, and they walked in silence, Lennon occasionally stealing glances at her.

  “Would you just say it?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “Whatever you’ve got going on in there. You keep looking at me.”

  “They told me that you’ve known you’re immune for five years.”

  She sighed. “Of course they did.”

  “I can understand not going when you were thirteen, but have you ever reconsidered? Like after your dad died?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  “My dad was my only blood relative in here, but he wasn’t my only family.”

  “Do you have relatives on the outside? Do you know?”

  “Yes. Both my mom’s parents are still alive, and so are my dad’s mom and his sister. I haven’t heard that they’ve died, so I assume they’re still out there in Texas somewhere.”

  “Have they ever let you talk to them?”

  “No, but I didn’t ask. I don’t know them.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “Did Dr. Lopez have an opinion?”

  “He said it was up to me. The medical team has taken enough samples to work with, even if I leave.”