The Escape Read Online Free Page B

it, which might be impossible given our place in line and the presence of so many Secret Service agents—even we could be temporarily incapacitated by their guns.
    An idea occurred to me. “I know how you can make it up to us, Mr. Mann, and I’m sure Mrs. Brinker here will agree. Will you stand in my picture with me and your parents? My friends will never believe that I met the entire family if you don’t.” I tried to force enough enthusiasm into my voice to make the request sound real, but Keene’s pained look told me I fell short.
    Mrs. Brinker’s nose twitched. “What a wonderful idea! Would you stand in ours, too? I would love to send a copy to Finley.”
    Patrick took a step back. “Well, I was about to—”
    “Please, I insist.” Mrs. Brinker put her arm through the hook made by his elbow. “We are one of your father’s largest contributors, you know, and I anticipate that we will support you as well when it’s your turn.” She patted his arm. “Oh, it is good to see you. I don’t spend enough time with Finley these days. We were all so worried when we heard about your skydiving accident. What a miracle you survived.”
    A rush of anger from Patrick jabbed into my mind, and I rubbed the base of my skull to relieve the throbbing. Yet now that I’d backed away from the thoughts and emotions in his sand stream, something else was bothering me about him, something familiar. I could almost hear a mental humming speeding through his synapses. Was this another side effect of my breakthrough in Mexico? I couldn’t be sure. But there was a clear pattern to the humming.
    Could I follow it? The impulses were going far too fast for me to trace without inserting my thoughts into them. Maybe if I just reached out and—a bright flash momentarily blinded me, and suddenly I felt connected to Patrick’s entire body, as if I’d sprouted a million arms and legs that connected everything together. Then just as suddenly, it was gone, and I was outside Patrick’s shield again, with no little hole in sight.
    “You okay?” Keene touched my elbow, his voice soft.
    “Yes.”
    “Do we need to come in?” Ritter’s voice sounded tense coming from my earbud, but the reminder of his presence made me relax, and my confidence reasserted itself. If it came to it, I was sure I could disable most of the Secret Service agents with my mind, and while that would seriously deplete my energy, Keene could wipe up any that were left. Afterwards, Ritter and the others would do their best to see that we got out.
    “Just think,” I murmured to Keene, “a picture with the whole family. What luck.”
    Mr. and Mrs. Brinker were lining up for their picture now. The vice president slapped Patrick on the back and the men smiled but I was sure I didn’t imagine the flicker of pure hatred in Patrick’s eyes. Or did I? My head was pounding now with the effort of having broken into his mind, but it was a small price to pay for having glimpsed the information there, as well as that black cord. I hoped Ava would be able to explain its purpose.
    Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Brinker had their arms around each other like old friends, though the thoughts radiating brightly from both clearly denied that premise. This was all for show. Smile for the camera.
    They smiled, the lights flashed, and it was finally our turn. I stood between Patrick and his father, while Keene slipped between the vice president and his wife. Vice President Mann beamed and worried, Mrs. Mann wilted, and Patrick stood like a board, his mind dark to me except for the irritation pouring off him like water. This close it was easy to delve into the mortals’ minds and see no knowledge of the Emporium. There was also no sign of any shiny black cord in the stream of their thoughts, which gave me a moment of relief.
    So why had Patrick thought we’d come to remove his father? That he thought we had, probably meant it was a good idea, but for all my dislike of the vice president and his