Killswitch Read Online Free

flashed a quizzical look. “Yes, hopefully the three are in hiding.” He rose and slipped his hands into his jeans’ rear pockets. “But maybe not. Tell me their names.”
    Chase pulled the information from the exoself. “All men, all arrested and then released in NYC. Nathan Gaines, Jack Oakley, and Gunner Ramos. Ring any bells?”
    “The first two, no. The last one is a supplier.”
    Chase pulled the code and found the name. And some history. “He used to be a preacher. Arrested seven times for fraud and money laundering. Lost his tax exemption long before every other church did. Now he’s supplying the underground. Making up for past sins?”
    “Why would the Feds let him go when they’re holding 200 other believers in detention centers?”
    “I wish I could tell you. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it—about any of this. I’m just an endless supply of information.”
    “Are you having second thoughts about joining our cause?”
    Chase was supposed to be here—he was programmed to help and protect these people. But how could he get five people out a detention center? What about the other 200 being held by the WR? How many more were there around the world? He didn’t even want to know.
    He pushed away from the gleaming white desktop.
    “What’s wrong?” Amos asked. “Chase, you can’t give up.”
    “Don’t you people pray or something when the odds are against you?”
    “I’m praying right now.”
    Chase looked Amos in the eyes, and something coursed through the exoself. The men who were released all had the same series of numbers after theirs names. 0043250. Chase ran WR detention center manuals. In seconds, he had the answer. “They’re not believers.”
    “What are you talking about?” Amos asked.
    “The three men who got released. Their activity in the underground is a ruse. They work for the government. They got picked up by mistake—they were with a group that got arrested. When the WR checked them out, they let them go.”
    “Chase, can you—”
    “I’m attaching the release code to the five who were taken in this morning.”
    “You think those officials are going to believe that all five are informants? Three of them are just kids.”
    “Do you have a better idea?” Chase took his seat at the desktop and pulled the code. The monitor showed the detention center. “There are four officials at the facility. They’re all low-level guards. They see a release code come up in their orders, they let the five go. At least, that’s what I hope will happen.”
    “Give it a try,” Amos said.
    Chase pulled a code and the exoself opened the system. Footsteps made him glance sideways. Switchblade. Back from town. Safe and sound.
    “Melody says we got five trapped in some stinkin’ center. You gonna get them out with your super powers?” Switchblade pulled off his sunglasses.
    “I’m working on it. Go get Mel. I need her help.”
    “I’ll get her,” Switchblade said. “But what are you doing for the five?”
    “Attaching a code to their names that will tell the officials they’re WR snitches, not believers.”
    “That’s the most asinine plan I’ve heard in long time.” The man’s broad shoulders lifted as he wheezed out a laugh. “When…If they get out, the Feds are gonna tap them for information. They’ll be forced to work against us.”
    “Have a little faith, Switch.” Chase smiled.
    “Faith—what do you know about that ? And don’t call me Switch, Charlie.” He bulldozed his way between the tightly positioned computer stations.
    Mel returned within a minute, Switchblade right behind her, and sat at the station. “Why is it that you can get in on WR transmissions and send out information to the underground, but you can’t just send a message to my VPad?”
    “The exoself doesn’t allow me to communicate directly with individuals. I think it has trust issues. I was permitted to send one message to Robert, but that’s all.”
    “That’s just