[Contributor 02] - Infiltrator (2013) by Nicole Ciacchella

waited until she left for the hiding space, but out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of him picking the memory stick up, cradling it as if it were the most precious object he’d ever held. It made the lump in her throat grow so large, so hard, that she could barely swallow.
    They huddled over the tablet together, and Dara told him about the cookies and the summary Raj had given her. Relief was apparent in her father’s eyes, but there was pain there too, and she saw how much it hurt him not to be with his wife in her time of need.
    The details of the report supported what Raj had told her. Leona seemed to have settled into her new life, and it sounded like the environment was much better for her. She was receiving the kind of round the clock care that Dara and Joshua had been unable to provide, and she appeared to be making good progress as a result. It sounded as if she was happier, more confident in her own abilities now that she had an occupational therapist working with her, someone to help her gain back some of the independence she had lost.
    “Do you think we’ll ever see her again?” Joshua asked, wiping his eyes.
    “I might be able to,” Dara said in a soft voice, uncertain if the words would hurt him even more.
    “If you can, you should.” He swallowed hard.
    “I wish you could go too. Maybe I could arrange it.”
    “Maybe.” He squeezed her hand. “The important thing is that she’s somewhere safe and she’s getting the care she needs. It’s more than I could have hoped for, and I’m grateful for it.”
    They sat quietly, holding hands, for several minutes, then Joshua took a shuddering breath and made a visible effort to collect himself.
    “What did they say about Andersen’s plans?” he asked.
    “They recognized that it was big news, of course. I’ve agreed to continue to keep an eye on him, and I’ve also agreed to go through training.”
    “Training?” He frowned, drawing his brows together.
    “I know. I’m not sure I necessarily trust them either, but it does make sense for me to learn more. They want me to study old books they’ve rescued, information they preserved from the old networks that existed before the Great Famine. They also want to teach me how to respond if I’m compromised.”
    “That’s good.” His brow smoothed, and she knew the thought made him breathe more easily. It did the same for her. Feeling so unprepared for how to deal with the possible consequences had been one of the worst things about her decision.
    “I’ll have to spend more time away,” she told him, a note of caution in her voice.
    “I realize that. Dara, if you need to use me as a cover story, I want you to do it. Let me do that much at least. Please.” His gaze beseeching, he stared at her, and her protest died on her lips.
    “All right,” she said, sighing.
    “I’m keeping my eyes open too. Anything I see or hear that sounds like it might be of value, I’ll pass along to you, so you can get it to them.”
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I want to do it. I’m…I’m ashamed to admit this, but I’m not sure I can do anything more, not just yet. I know your mother’s safe, but I still have you to think about. I don’t know what I’d be able to do if something went wrong, but I have to be here with you, have to know I’ll be around to do whatever I can if something does happen to you.”
    The words made her shudder, though she tried to conceal it from her father. She hated the idea of him being at risk, hated to think that something horrible could happen to him because of her actions.
    “We’ll look out for each other,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
    “Always.” His voice was fierce, and he planted a firm kiss on the top of her head. “I hope you know I’d sacrifice anything for you, Dara. Anything .”
    “I know, Dad.” Closing her eyes, she fought against the urge to weep. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, hoped it with every last fiber