Xenofreak Nation, Book Three: XIA by Melissa Conway Page B

so we can get you that shower and a nice room,” Scott said.
    “A room where?” Nicola asked.
    “Somewhere safe.”
    “There’s nowhere safe from my dad. Padme can find anyone and Lupus…”
    She trailed off, more than a trace of apprehension on her face. Scott had wondered how much she knew about Fournier’s activities, and her reaction seemed to indicate she knew quite a lot.
    Shasta must have wanted to ease her concerns, because she said, “Lupus is in custody, and Padme has left your father’s employ.”
    “Really?” Nicola looked astonished. “That must have been why she told me. Because she was leaving.”
    Scott tilted his head. “Told you…that you’re a clone?”
    Nicola decided to sit after all, sliding down in her chair, arms still crossed. “I didn’t believe her, but then I talked to Dad and he admitted it. That he made me.”
    “Where is your father?” Shasta asked.
    Nicola rolled her eyes. “Why? So you can arrest him? Like I’m gonna tell you.”
    “Are you aware of what he’s been doing?” Shasta leaned her elbows on the table. “Dozens of innocent people have died.”
    “That’s not his fault.”
    “No? And yet you’ve been with,” she glanced down at the holofile, “Mr. Ostling for two days now, while he’s been diligently using the socialnet to spread some very specific information about the outbreak. Information he had to get somewhere.”
    Nicola licked her lips. “Yeah, so what? Daddy tried to warn people, but they didn’t listen. Savvy thought we could do a better job getting the word out. Besides, Daddy didn’t create that bacteria. He’s not responsible for that. He’s just…using it.”
    “Well, I didn’t invent guns,” Shasta countered, “but if I use one to kill someone, I am responsible.”
    “Whatever.” Nicola’s gaze slid past Shasta towards the corner of the room.
    Scott was pretty sure Shasta wasn’t going to get Nicola to cooperate by attempting to undermine her loyalty to her father. In fact, she was only forcing the girl to vehemently defend the man. Maybe if they eased up on her, gave her the opportunity to plead her father’s case, she’d relax again.
    “Who did your father try to warn?” he asked.
    Nicola made a sour face, like he’d asked a stupid question.
    “You,” she said, spreading her hands to indicate the room around them. “The XIA.”

Chapter Seventeen
     
    Bryn kept an eye out for road signs, all the while acting like she wasn’t paying attention to where they were going. Not that it mattered, really. Since Dundee hadn’t blindfolded them, he was either taking them to a meeting place other than Fournier’s new hideout, or they just might not be getting out of this alive. She’d been anxious so often lately, she was beginning to feel as if the fight or flight response was a normal state of being.
    The holoclock on the dash showed half an hour had passed. Mia talked a good portion of that time, but had finally seemed to run out of steam. She was resting her forehead on the back of Dundee’s seat, and Bryn thought maybe she’d dozed off until she said, “Where are we going again?”
    Something told Bryn the effects of the painkiller were wearing off and Mia wouldn’t appreciate another lie.
    “Dundee is Fournier’s man,” she said. “We’re, um, going to see him, apparently.”
    “What? Why?” Mia directed the questions to Dundee.
    “How would I know? Do I look like his best friend? He wants to talk to you.”
    Mia’s eyes slid to Bryn, who couldn’t muster a reassuring return look. She lifted her shoulders a little to indicate she had no idea why Fournier wanted to speak with them.
    Their surroundings gradually transitioned from residential to rustic as the houses got farther and farther away from each other. As the yards got bigger, the houses became smaller and more derelict. Dundee took a right turn onto a rutted road that didn’t have a sign identifying it. Bryn felt sorry for Mia, who stiffened in