The Forgotten

The Conspiracy, You Idiot

We arrive at the Bristills' the same time as Will. I grin at the sight of him, despite myself.

"Hey," he says. "You ready?" I nod and follow him to his car. As Shain drives by, she gives me a double thumbs up. Laughing, I make a face at her.

Once inside the car, I realize Will's is not an auto-drive. Brace must not have a great salary. Whoever decided on the amount of his paycheck never met me. If they had, they would have given him enough to buy five auto-drive cars and a Jacuzzi.

"Did you hear about Tabitha Crest?" Will asks as her starts the car. I nod, then realize he can't see me because I'm sitting beside him and he actually has his eyes on the road.

"Yeah, I did," I tell him. "Horrible, isn't it?" This time he nods, but I see him because I'm looking at him.

"Weird isn't it?" he asks. I frown.

"What? That someone managed to kill the President's daughter and hasn't been caught?"

"No," he explains, "that she died the same day of Jess' funeral. And the same day Cardinal reappeared. It's beginning to look like someone has a vendetta against the aristocrats. Don't you think?"

"Definitely," I agree. He seems surprised by my quick reply.

He asks, "What gives you that impression?" I look away from him and out the window. Is it fair I've told Cardinal and Shain the truth but not him?

Yes, I decide. Shain and Cardinal displayed knowledge of foreseeing this development. I was merely filling in the blanks. Will has simply observed that multiple rich people are dying. Not exactly a Sherlock Homes conclusion. So, for now, I'm not telling him. If he expresses a suspicion concerning me and my odd behavior as of recent, then I'll fill him in. Right now, my true identity is none of his concern.

"Three in a week," I state. He doesn't press, so I don't elaborate. He probably thinks I meant attack. Anyone who knows Raven's dead knows why it's three.

I wish I didn't know why it's three in a week (even though Cardinal didn't die). But you can't un-see or un-know anything. You can use it though. And that's what I'm gonna do.

Will takes me to a restaurant I've never heard of before. That means practically nothing, seeing as I've never been to a restaurant and I've only heard of three since I left the Compound. Even when I escaped I didn't have any money to eat out.

The place doesn't sound too fancy...or expensive. That's a good thing. Not because I don't like those things, which I don't, but I know Will would insist on paying. I know he couldn't afford a really nice place. I'm frankly surprised he could take me to a place like this. It has steak in the name, so I'm guessing that's what it serves. I've heard Mr. Bristill say those are decently expensive. To the common folk, as he put it.

Will opens the door for me, both in exiting the car and entering the restaurant. What do you know, I've come across a rare thing. A gentleman. I'd better hold on to him. Figuratively speaking.

We get seated almost immediately. I hadn't expected this. Then again, I also hadn't expected the restaurant to be practically empty. Go figure.

The waitress, whose name is Jenna, asks our drink orders in a southern accent. I get the feeling she's not native to D.C.

"I'll have an Ice Tea, no lemon," Will tells her politely. He looks at me. "What do you want?"

I consider.

"I'll have what he's having," I decide. I haven't tasted tea yet, so I'm curious. I hope it's not like soda. I tried soda this week and my tongue was numb from the bubbles for two hours. Never going down that road again.