Page 67 of Between Control and Chaos
“As you may have heard, Harper Ricci, the nineteen-year-old college student who went missing yesterday evening has been found alive. She’s at home, recovering with her family. We’ve taken her statement and we are now launching a joint investigation with the F.B.I. because we have reason to believe that she was being held in Nevada and their human trafficking operation originated outside of the Las Vegas area.”
A plethora of questions from reporters all begins at once and he takes one question from the audience.
The woman provides her studio credentials and then says, “Can you tell us if there’s any relation between the blackout outside of Vegas city limits and this abduction?”
The police chief smiles and laughs. “Those questions you’ll have to ask the F.B.I., who will be offering a press conference later this afternoon with any new information that they uncover. I don’t have any information regarding the blackout. That’s well past my jurisdiction and pay grade,” he jokes.
Dad mutes the television and glances at me. “How the hell did you cause a blackout?”
Twenty-Eight
Bristol
I overhear Jaxson discussing with Dante that the mission is complete and everyone is heading back to the compound. Relief should flood through me, but Jaxson is tense, to say the least.
He ends the call, tilting his head up at the ceiling, grumbling rather loudly.
This is my cue to leave, but I’m a glutton for punishment. I knock on his open door and he gestures me inside.
“Anything you need from me?” I ask, hopeful that I can bail and see Liam. I’ve been worried about him this whole damn time. And knowing that I can’t text him because his phone was likely fried in the EMP sucks a million times worse.
He laughs under his breath. “I’d love a reset, but I don’t imagine you can do that.” His stare sends a shiver down my spine, and I force a smile.
“Sorry.”
“It’s—nothing.” He waves his hand dismissively.
It’s obviously not nothing. An EMP took down part of the city-grid of Las Vegas. It could have been a lot worse; the entire downtown area and Las Vegas Strip could have been affected.
“Do us both a favor: don’t mention what we did here today to anyone.” Jaxson’s intense stare makes me momentarily forget to breathe. “Can you do that?”
He’s waiting for affirmation.
I offer a faint nod. “Of course.”
“I mean it, Bristol. You can discuss it with Liam because he’s aware of the situation, but that’s it. No friends at school, no one outside of the little circle who saved Harper.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not like I have a bunch of friends.”
Jaxson watches me and seems satisfied with my answer. “Where are you off to?”
“I was hoping to see Liam. Any chance you know where they’re headed?”
His eyes widen and he shakes his head in dismay. “Yeah, Dante Ricci’s home. I have the address, but I’m not sure I should give it to you.”
I step farther into his office, tilting my head, confused. It’s not like I don’t know what just happened. I helped with Jaxson’s involvement.
Dante should consider me an ally, if not a friend.
“Why not?” I ask.
“He’s dangerous, but I suppose you’re old enough to make your own decisions,” he muses.
“That’s right. Can you get me that address?”
Jaxson isn’t thrilled with sending me to Dante’s, but it’s at my own insistence, not his orders, and he relents, handing over the address to me.
I rideshare my way to Dante’s, because there aren’t buses that go through Breckenridge, only in and out of town. Which leaves me to either walk, hitchhike, or rideshare. Asking Mom or Jaxson for a ride is not an option.
