figures, set it down again. “The government lied during the Doom, and right after. But I believe, I have to believe, it lied in a misguided, even arrogant attempt to control panic. This is nothing like that. Hargrove’s a psychopath, and as obsessed as Jeremiah White.”
She gestured to the monitor, and now Fallon read both misery and conflict on her face.
“I understand why I can’t broadcast anything we’ve learned through the bugs, but it brings me back, Fallon. It takes me back to sitting at the anchor desk in New York and knowing I lied to anyone listening.”
“You’re not lying now, and when we take D.C., you can broadcast all of it.”
“I understand the reasons. I even agree with them. My Theo, my boy, is going to war.”
Arlys pressed a hand to her lips, waved Fallon off when Fallon stepped toward her.
“I’m terrified. I know Will, I know he’ll look after Theo as best he can, but my son, my heart, is going into battle, and I’m terrified. Rachel’s oldest, too.”
“I know. I just spoke with her. I was coming to talk to you even before you asked me to come. I don’t have a son or daughter, but I do know what it’s like for you. I see it in my mother, and I know it’s the hardest thing there is.”
“I believe in you. I believed in you before you were born, when I saw you through Lana. I believe in you.” She let out a breath. “I know why Theo’s going. I know why I can’t broadcast the horrors Hargrove perpetuates, the horrors he plans. But I can broadcast what we do about it. I want you to embed me when we attack D.C.”
“You can broadcast from here,” Fallon began.
“By relay, when someone’s able to tell me something, anything. Not good enough,” Arlys said, with steel in her voice. “I go, and I tell people, show when I can, as it happens. I show them when you go down to the containment center, what Hargrove and his bastardized government have done. I show them you, Fallon. I show them The One. For most people, seeing’s believing. You need this, and I’ve earned it.”
“Have you talked to Will about this?” At Arlys’s cool stare, Fallon rolled her eyes. “Not because he’s a man. Because he’s your mate, and a commander.”
“Okay. Yes, we talked. He didn’t have an argument that overcame mine. You don’t, either.”
“No, I don’t. You’re my mother’s friend. I believe in you. I believed in you before I met you because I saw you through her. You can’t take Chuck.”
“I understand. He won’t like it, but he knows he’s essential here. I want one more thing.”
“What?”
“I want to interview Hargrove after you’ve taken him. I know you want him alive, and if he’s alive at the end of this, I want an interview.”
“That’s an easy one.”
When she went out, Fallon stood in the winter sunlight looking at the snowpeople kids had built in front and side yards, at the cheerful wreaths on windows or doors. Handmade menorahs graced a few windows. She could hear shouts—no school—from nearby as people sledded or threw snowballs.
She spun around when one of those snowballs hit dead center of her back.
And nearly jolted when she watched Duncan brushing the snow off his hands as he walked down the sidewalk to her.
“A coward shoots in the back.”
“Or an opportunist,” he said. “It was too good to miss.”
“I didn’t know you were here.”
“Just for a couple hours. You look good. It’s been awhile.”
“Awhile.”
“I was going to head over to your place, but Hannah said you were in town. Let’s walk.”
She fell into step with him. He looked … tougher, she decided. Honed. “You’ve gotten all the intel?”
“Yeah, right up to this morning. I’m looking forward to smashing their plans. Ballsy move to bug the White House. Sorry I missed it.”
“It had to be done.”
“Sure it did.” Even as she let a little satisfaction in, he continued. “Too bad you didn’t think of it sooner. We’ve been able to recruit off the rumors—we’re caging them as rumors—Hargrove and White are working toward a deal.”
“If that gets out—”
“We’re not morons, Fallon. We’re saying we got it from a captured PW.”
“Your numbers increased with your alliance with the First Tribe, with Meda.”
“More than numbers. I’ve never seen anyone who can ride or fight on horseback like the First Tribe.” His words might have been briskly delivered, but admiration shone through. “They’re helping train in that skill. We