fertility lab. He’s had people watching us, trying to pinpoint when and where we’ll die. Most of us die around our eighteenth birthdays.”
“That sucks!” he says and starts pacing. “You don’t know where the doctor is?”
“No.”
Jimmy nods. “But you think he might be able to help you?”
“His research might.”
He nods again, and I can see excitement growing in his eyes. “You need a hacker. That’s probably what he has. A good hacker can get into hospital records with no problem. A really good one. And a good hacker could get into that phone.”
“Do you know any good hackers?” Cami asks. “Maybe someone you knew in the marines.”
A broad smile grows on Jimmy’s face. “Yeah. As a matter of fact, I do.”
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Copyright © 2015 by Debra Dockter.
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ow do you know this guy?” Cami asks as we watch various people, mostly burly-looking men, coming in and out of the truck stop.
“I told you, we served together in Afghanistan.” Jimmy glances at his watch. “He’s probably just running a little late.”
A waitress puts down three small glasses of water, one with something floating on top of it.
“We’ve got another one coming,” Jimmy says, and the waitress leaves to get another glass and one more menu. “We didn’t fight together. He wasn’t even supposed to be in Afghanistan.
He was supposed to be stationed in Germany, but the intelligence guy serving at our base had a breakdown, so they sent Matt in. He was pissed, too. Guy’s a genius. Wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near combat zones—that’s the deal his recruiter made him. But there he was in the thick of it. He spent two weeks at our base, then the higher-ups realized their mistake.
We were transporting him out when we got hit.”
“Got hit?” I ask.
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Copyright © 2015 by Debra Dockter.
FOR REVIEWING PURPOSES ONLY--NOT FOR SALE
“IED blew the shit out of us, but I was lucky compared to Matt.”
Lucky? What could be worse than chunks of metal in your brain? “What happened to him?”
“Lost his left leg and some other parts us guys are particularly fond of, if you know what I mean. He was supposed be getting married to his high school sweetheart, and she dumped him while he was in the hospital. Who does that?” He clears his throat just as a man in his midtwenties comes through the door. Jimmy waves, and he comes toward the table.
Matt’s wearing jeans and a shirt buttoned up oddly high for the warm weather. He walks with a noticeable limp.
“Man, it’s been too long,” he says as the reunited marines give each other a quick but firm embrace. They both sit down.
“This is my niece, Cami,” Jimmy says, motioning across the table. “And this is her friend Kyle, the one I told you about.”
Matt extends his hand to each of us. He doesn’t look like a computer nerd. His shoulders are broad, his arms muscular.
His blond hair is cut short next to his somewhat tan face. He reminds me of an older version of one of Connor’s friends. I can totally see them shooting hoops together or going for a run. Of course, it might be tough for Matt to do those things with one leg.
The waitress steps up to the table. “Do you need another minute?” she asks, looking at Matt. “I can come back if you do.” She’s probably in her early twenties, with long brown hair pulled into a ponytail. She’d be prettier if she put some effort 1 6 2
Copyright © 2015 by Debra Dockter.
FOR REVIEWING PURPOSES ONLY--NOT FOR SALE
into it, but I can see why she doesn’t, working here. Still, the way she’s looking at Matt, I bet she wishes she had.
“I’ll just have a cup of coffee,” Matt says, avoiding the eyes that are trying to meet his.
She looks at me. “And you?”
I lift the menu, and my fingers slip on the greasy film covering it. The place is busy, but it’s the only place on Interstate 70 for several miles, so the number of patrons probably has nothing to do with the quality of the food.
“I’ll just have a Coke,” I say.
“A lemonade,” Cami adds.
Jimmy looks at us like he doesn’t quite understand why we chose to meet at a truck stop at lunchtime if nobody’s ordering any lunch. When no one offers him an explanation, he shakes his head. “I’ll take a Dr Pepper and a piece of apple pie.” He picks up the glass with something floating in