Recompense

TEN

Caedmon meets us as we disembark from the aeropod. "Willoughby wants the two of you in his office immediately."

Ethan's back straightens as soon as his feet touch the dirt, his stride becomes measured and precise, and efficiency drops over him like a cloak. But he holds the door for me, and I feel a light touch at my back as we enter Willoughby's office. The friendly, relaxed atmosphere we carried back with us has not vanished completely.

"Ah, good morning, Jack, Ethan," Willoughby greets us. "You are both looking fit. Did you have a good week?"

Ethan stiffens to attention beside me, but I hear the smirk in his voice. "Yes, sir. I managed to keep Miss Holloway alive."

I roll my eyes and push him away with one elbow.

Willoughby peers over his glasses, his eyes flickering between us curiously. "Indeed. Well, congratulations, Jack. Your training has successfully concluded."

"Thank you, sir."

"Ethan, your help in this matter has been appreciated. I commend you for a job well done."

"Does this mean I'm reinstated on the electromagnetism project?" he asks.

"Not quite yet. I thought you might be interested in the latest reports gathered from my sources at Macron. Jack, I'd like you to hear this too. Please have a seat."

Ethan takes the sofa, and I curl a leg beneath me as I sink into the plush chair.

"You've missed an interesting week," Willoughby begins. "While you were gone, I've received word of a number of kidnappings in Epson City. Mostly girls, ages fifteen to eighteen."

Every bit of frivolity drops from the room. "You think they're related, sir?" Ethan asks.

"Well, that would be my first thought. Wouldn't you agree?"

"It seems likely. Are there no others beyond Epson City?"

"None that follow this pattern."

Willoughby presses a button, and a holoscreen appears in the center of the room. Four rows of smiling, fresh-faced girls flash onto it.

"Of our sixteen victims, nine are acclaimed ball players, one is skilled in archery, three run, two row on teams, and five swim competitively."

"All athletes," Ethan muses. "And all very pretty."

"And each one has received academic honors. These are smart, accomplished young ladies. They're not the type to run away or be taken in by shady characters."

Ethan's eyes have narrowed. I can practically see his brain analyzing the data. "What castes are they from?"

"Mostly Uppers and Middles. A few Lowers."

"Were there any ransom notes?"

"None. This doesn't seem to be about money."

Ethan rubs his chin absently with a finger and thumb. "How did they go missing?"

"Every one of them disappeared after school or after a school-related activity."

"Any suspects?"

"Well, that depends whether you consider them suspects or fellow victims. One of the girls disappeared with her boyfriend. Another with a young man with whom she maintained a close friendship. Neither of the boys has shown up since."

Two more pictures appear on the screen. The boys, one age sixteen, the other seventeen, also look fit and athletic.

Ethan jumps to his feet and begins pacing right through the holoscreen. "I want case files on all of them—where they were, what they were doing, who they were with, when they left, when they were expected home, their usual routes, their dog's names, their grandmother's hair color, and their favorite lollipop flavor."