With that she spun toward the door and stomped out into the night. The door slammed behind her and echoed in the silence. Theo heard frustrated, muffled sobs. He turned and saw Ryan slowly breaking down, slumping back into his seat, face in his hands. Liz came over and put her arm around him from behind the chair. Theo felt fortunate to have found Liz and Brian. All of them. Even without Michelle, they were a strong group, and maybe, just maybe they were enough to inspire some people to hope for a world better than what Paul Tiberius was giving them.

  Chapter 20

  When Michelle departed after her diatribe, the remaining members of the small group of rebels assured Ryan that she would come to her senses and return soon. She didn’t return the next day, or the day after that. By the time the group met again one week later, Ryan had given up hope that Michelle was ever going to come back. Nobody had seen or heard from her in all that time.

  In between the second and third meetings, Bill used a break from a maintenance job in one of the city’s many high rises to join Theo near the community housing projects. “Jeez,” Bill said, “They’ve got me up doing repair work in some fancy place, but this is where we need to be doing work.”

  “Yeah,” laughed Theo, “I get that. That’s why we’re here, remember?”

  “Oh, right,” said Bill. “So how do you want to handle this? How exactly do we win hearts and minds?”

  “Mayor Lucas told me once that the reason he thought he was a good mayor had nothing to do with any particular skills or intelligence,” Theo said. “He said the key was that he always listened, really listened to what people were telling him. Everyone wants to know that his or her concerns are being heard. And in our case, these people need to know that there’s an alternative to Tiberius out there, and that alternative is on their side.”

  “An alternative to Tiberius that the people can’t vote for though.”

  “Okay, true, but that’s not the point. What we are doing hinges on one very strong theory: that there are way more anti-Tiberius people than pro-Tiberius people on the island. Our job is to unite them… somehow.”

  “So, we listen.”

  “Yup. Listen, learn and maybe give them a little hope in return…what?”

  Bill was looking at him curiously.

  “What is it? Why are you staring at me?”

  Bill laughed. “Sorry. It’s just that, well, I’ve said it before but you’re really a natural at this leadership thing. Seeing you like this, it’s like this is always who you were meant to be.”

  Theo was touched. “Thanks, man, I appreciate the support. I can’t take all the credit anyhow, I learned a hell of a lot in a very short time from Mayor Lucas.”

  “He was pretty awesome, wasn’t he?” asked Bill.

  “Yeah. He was. He never stopped believing in the good of people, even Tiberius. Maybe that cost him his life. I don’t know.”

  “Doesn’t matter now,” said Bill. “He’d be proud of what you’re trying to do.”

  “I hope so. Okay here’s somebody coming now.” A young woman in a faded dress opened the screen door to one of the houses and walked out onto the porch. She looked to the left, toward the beach and the rolling waves. She let out a huge sigh and sat down on the top step.

  Bill nudged Theo. “Go ahead, boss. Talk to her.”

  Theo tentatively stepped forward. “Hi, my name’s Theo Essex. This is my friend Bill Mansfield. Would you mind if we talked to you for a minute?”

  She pulled her knees in to her chest defensively. “Are you his men? The Supreme Leader?”

  “No, no not at all,” said Theo. “We’re just citizens of Atlantic Island like you. People who’ve seen what Tiberius is doing and don’t like it. Would it be okay for us to sit with you? We won’t take up much of your time.”

  She laughed, a hoarse, unpleasant sound. Theo doubted very much that this woman laughed often. “Don’t you worry about taking my time. Time is all I have. Come, sit.” She slid over to one end of the porch steps and turned to the side. Theo and Bill sat across from her, Theo on the top step and Bill two steps lower.

  “My name’s Jane,” she said, “I’m curious. What is it you want to know?”

  “How did you end up here?” Theo asked. “In the ‘special housing,’ I mean.”

  “Very special, isn’t it?” Jane pointed back at the house. “Damned thing’s about one step away from collapsing on us. Funny thing is, this used to be a nice house. All of these were nice before the Event. Beach block property. Between the damage from the Event and the storms since, and the shady characters that occupied these places off and on in the past year, everything good has been stripped away and what’s left sure as hell wouldn’t pass any inspection I’ve ever heard of.”

  “None of the construction crews have passed through here?” asked Bill.

  “Not as far as I know,” said Jane. “Doesn’t look like it. Maybe they didn’t know what they were doing.” She laughed her croaky laugh again. She saw something in Bill’s face. “You one of the construction people?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said. “I like to think I know what I’m doing though. I’d never let this place fall apart like this. I’m usually only assigned to the more….elite districts. I’m starting to get the idea that all the attention is going there. That’s part of why we’re here, right Theo?”

  “Right. Miss… Jane? You were going to tell us how you ended up here.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” she said. “Not much of a story to tell. Pretty common one around here, actually. My husband got marked up for speaking out against ration restrictions way back before the new leadership took over. Back in Lucas’s time. Nothing really happened to him back then. Then all of a sudden, Tiberius is in charge, and we get a knock at our door in the middle of the night. Bunch of Security Force guys come in. Arrest Tony for speaking out against the rations. Say he’s been sentenced to a year in prison. We lost our home and I was sent here. Must have missed when they held his trial.”

  “They’ve moved from rigged trials to no trials at all,” Bill mused. “That’s progress.”

  “Jane,” said Theo, “how many people do you share this house with?”

  “There’s twenty including me,” she said. “Fifteen women and five kids.”

  “No men were sent here?”

  “Not to this house, no. There are a few down the street, or so I hear. Seems like they are more interested in sending men to jail than women. Figure they’d be more likely to fight back…to be a problem for the leadership.” She paused, eyeing Theo and Bill with suspicion.

  “You’re telling me the truth here?” she asked. “You’re not with Tiberius?”

  “Not a chance,” said Bill. “Jane you are talking with one of the first guys unfairly thrown in jail here and Mayor Lucas’s protégé who is pretty damned sure Tiberius ordered the mayor’s assassination. We couldn’t be further from Tiberius’s side.”

  She smiled. “I see that. But you can’t blame me for being careful, can you? They took my Tony away from me for nothing, and I can’t believe they are done. No way they are just going to leave me alone forever, much as I wish it was so.”

  “You’re right to be cautious,” said Theo. “But I tell you as sincerely as I can, you’ve got two friends here, and we know several more. There’s a…group organizing to keep tabs on Tiberius and his people.”

  “And you’re the head of this group?” she asked.

  Theo felt a little embarrassed. “Yes…well, I wasn’t my own first choice.”

  She laughed. “I didn’t mean to say I didn’t think you should be in charge. I think just from this little conversation we’ve had that you’re the perfect guy for the job.” She looked at Bill. “No offense.”

  “None taken. I’m just here to help. Theo’s the man with the vision, trust me.”

  “Dare I ask what you all are planning to do to fight back? I’m on board with anything that can put that bastard in his place and get Tony back in my arms.”

  “The specifics are still something we are going to work out,” said Theo. “We are down here today to get a feel for the kind of situation you’ve been placed in by the leadership and to let you know that you’re not alone.”

  “Well, neither are you,” she said. “I’ve got friends here and we’ll help you any way we can, if and when you need us.”

  “Thank you, Jane,” Theo said. “I can tell you that we aren’t rushing anything. We need to move carefully here, but this is just the beginning. We will find a way to stop Tiberius. This country can be much better than it is if we all work together. I’m glad we got to meet you today. I promise we’ll be in touch soon.”

  “Is it alright if I tell some of the other people here about you?” she asked.

  “Yes,” said Theo, “but please remember how important it is that we keep this secret for now. Tiberius can’t know that we are meeting, or organizing, or planning. Do you understand?”

  “Of course. You boys go about your business now. I’ve got plenty of sitting on the porch to do.” She laughed her ragged laugh again. Theo and Bill said goodbye to her and walked on down the road.

  “She’s a character,” said Bill.

  “Yup, but she’s tough. Been through some hard times.”

  “You think we can call on her…on all the people down here when we need them?”

  “I do. Whatever we are going to build, whatever we are going to do, it starts here and with these people. They are our army, Bill, and when they finally strike, Tiberius will never have seen it coming.”

  “Works for me,” said Bill, “but let’s try to get our army some weapons before we go around striking things, okay?”

  “So there’s been no sign of Michelle in all this time?” Kylee asked.

  The small group was meeting for the third time in Kylee and Theo’s apartment. Ryan sat staring at the floor, the perpetual frown he had worn the past weeks a thin line on his face. Now he looked up at Kylee and shook his head. “Nah, nothing. I don’t know where she’s living or if she’s okay. Haven’t heard a word.”

  “I don’t want to give you a hard time,” said Dale, “but maybe you’re better off without her, man, maybe we all are. She’s a little…negative.” Ryan flashed him a look that made Dale stumble backwards in his chair. “Sorry, man.”

  “Okay,” said Theo, “I’m pretty sure Joseph and Andrew have something to report. Right, guys?” He gave them a look that said please help me out!

  “Yes, definitely,” said Joseph. Theo assumed Joseph and Andrew were two of the oldest people on the island, which wasn’t saying all that much. Many of the most elderly had been too frail to survive the Event and what came after. The two men may have been in their sixties. Of course, Theo thought, he could be completely off. The grey hair and Joseph’s moustache gave an air of seniority.

  Theo really liked Joseph and Andrew. They never made mention of their relationship, and might have been good friends were it not for the little looks they exchanged that said plenty. Andrew had been the head of payroll for some major corporation in New York before the Event. “One small step from retirement” was how he put it. Theo wasn’t entirely clear what Joseph’s job was or had been. The man looked like he had been a bodybuilder in his younger years, and had an accent just like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s to boot.

  “We went down to the north end of the island like you said, Theo,” Joseph continued. “And, would you believe, we heard some government people talking about ‘weapons stations!’”

  “What do you think it means?” asked Theo.

  “Oh we know what it means,” said Andrew. “They were very specific. You might think they had no idea two handsome men were right across the street listening in.”

  “Such a flatterer, this one, especially when he can flatter himself in the process,” said Joseph, smiling.

  “Anyway, if I may continue, we learned that Tiberius has weapons stations around the island. It’s safe to assume a good portion of firepower still resides at the security headquarters, but we are confident he has emergency supplies all over the place. This is a paranoid man, and a prepared man, but I think we can exploit that to our advantage.”

  “Excellent,” said Theo. “I think we have something here. The question is how to get access to them when we need them and without Tiberius knowing what we—” a frantic pounding at the door interrupted him.

  Kylee moved to the door. She looked at Theo who nodded approval. She walked over and peered through the peephole. “It’s Officer Menendez!” she said. “He looks scared.”

  “Let him in,” said Theo.

  Kylee opened the door. “Carlos! What’s wrong?”

  Menendez looked panicked. “It’s Tiberius. He’s on his way with a whole squad of Security Force agents!”

  “I don’t understand,” said Theo, “What’s this all about?”

  “You are all being charged with treason!” said Menendez. “You have to leave. You have to hide! Now!”

  They jumped from their seats and scrambled around the apartment. “There’s no time to grab anything,” said Menendez, “I’m sorry. You need to go!” Theo watched the rest of the group leave.

  “Theo, did you not hear me? Get out!”

  “Why is this happening?” he asked. “Where is Officer Dougherty?”

  “Dougherty’s being put into ‘early retirement.’ If you ask me, he’s lucky to get off that easy. The walls are closing in on people who aren’t aligned with the Supreme Leader. Now, Theo, get out of here.”

  Theo ran into the darkness outside the apartment. He slipped into the alleyway across the street and several buildings down. He didn’t know where the others were but assumed they were nearby.

  Theo could barely see the front of the apartment. He saw Menendez walk outside and stand at attention.

  After a few minutes, Tiberius came walking up, taking long strides. Several masked members of the Security Force accompanied him.

  “Where are the criminals, Officer Menendez?” Tiberius said in his chilling voice.

  “I looked everywhere, sir. They must be out somewhere.”

  “The reports from the neighbors said they meet at this time.”

  “Sir, it’s possible they vary the nights they meet. Are we even sure they are doing anything treasonous?”

  “Officer Menendez, nothing good for this country can come from anything where Theo Essex is involved. When I hear he is throwing gatherings, I know all I need to know.”

  Theo’s heart pounded. They had been discovered much faster than he had expected. How the hell had Tiberius found out? Who had seen them?

  “I’m telling you, sir, Theo’s a good kid.”

  “Sam Lucas thought the same, officer. Look at how that worked out for him.”

  “I’ll keep a watch on the place tonight. Make sure you’re informed if they return. We can seal it off in the morning for redistribution.”

  There was a pause as Tiberius considered Menendez’s plan. “Officer, if it’s all the same to you, I will be taking a look around the apartment.”

  “Are you questioning my loyalties, sir?”

  “Not at all, Officer. I will simply rest easier seeing for myself that Essex isn’t hiding somewhere.”

  Theo could tell from Tiberius’s voice that the Supreme Leader didn’t trust Menendez at all.

  Time passed as Tiberius and his men searched the apartment. Finally, they came outside.

  “It seems you were right, Officer Menendez. The Essex boy and his followers have vacated the premises. Almost as if they were warned.”

  “Sir,” a new voice. “We found this one hiding in the bushes. He’s young. Maybe one of Essex’s group?”

  Damn it! Theo thought.

  Two helmeted guards led Dale into view. Tiberius stepped in front of him.

  “What is your name, boy?” asked Tiberius.

  “I’m Dale.”

  “Dale, where is Theo Essex? Where are his co-conspirators?”

  “Kiss my ass.”

  Tiberius frowned. “Remember that you speak to the Supreme Leader, boy! I will ask you one more time. Where. Is. Theo. Essex?”

  “Go to hell, demon bastard! This is for my family!” With unexpected swiftness, Dale elbowed one of the guards holding him and twisted free of the other. He lunged for Tiberius. The Supreme Leader moved with blinding speed. His hand grasped Dale by the throat, lifted him effortlessly off the ground and snapped the teen’s neck. The Security Force officers stood silent. Menendez looked ill. Theo heard a gasp and realized at least one of his group was hiding somewhere near him.

  “You will allow Essex and his gang of criminals to return home. I want them to find this. Then, and only then, will you come in and arrest them all.” Tiberius relaxed his grip and Dale’s body crumpled to the ground.

  Tiberius and the other Security Forces left. Menendez knelt by Dale’s body, tears streaming down his face. After several minutes, Menendez looked up. He shouted into the distance, trying to reach Theo’s group. “You run now,” he shouted. “All of you. Run and disappear.”

  Theo stepped out. “I don’t want to run.”

  “You have no choice. The Security Force might still be around. Run as fast and as far as you can. Hide, and find others who agree with you. When you’re ready, and only when you’re absolutely ready, you come back. You find me. And together we will kill that son of a bitch.”

  Chapter 21

  The flight response embedded in Theo’s brain mingled with his agony and guilt over Dale’s senseless death. He fled his home, leaving his few possessions behind. Kylee and the others ran with him. They kept to the shadows, wandering in and out of yards and behind shuttered shops.