Awakening - The Last Science #1

Chapter 17 - A Gentleman and a Doctor - III

  Cinza and Ruby were allowed to go after a brief talk by the sheriff. Having single-handedly ending the riot before it could really escalate, without injuring a single person, Jackie had commended her on her quick action. Cinza looked reasonably pleased and promised to be in touch. With a quick look at Rachel to confirm that their plans were still on for the night, she disappeared with a dazed Ruby at her heels. Jackie had offered to give them a ride, but Cinza steadfastly refused.

  Rachel and Smith were herded into the back of the cruiser and whisked off to the mayor's office.

  "What the hell happened?" Rowan asked, pacing behind his desk. The reverend was holding an ice pack to his face, while Rachel simply stood to the side.

  "The town is getting uneasy."

  "No kidding," he said dryly. "Please tell me you have something."

  Rachel hesitated. "We're still searching."

  "Rachel, come on." Rowan groaned as the phone on his desk lit up again. "Do you see what I've got to deal with here?"

  "You need to get control of your people," Rachel said. He stopped, anger flaring up in his face.

  "My people?"

  "You asked me to treat you like an equal, Rowan. Your people came close to a riot today, and it was only thanks to Cinza's quick thinking that we made it out without any injuries."

  "Excuse me," said Smith.

  "Any serious injuries," she amended, and he winked.

  "She's right, sir," Jackie added. "You've only got me and Preston. We're fine when the town's normal, but this is a goddamn siege. We can't keep the peace in a siege."

  Rowan sat down heavily, picking up a glass of water and draining it. "Doctor, I appreciate you trying to protect your neighbors, but would you please not go punching a hysterical crowd again?"

  "I've learned my lesson," Smith answered cheerfully.

  "Thank you."

  "What's the word on supplies?" Jackie asked.

  "We're fine for a while, unless we have a sudden uptick of medical needs," Rowan said, glancing pointedly at the doctor. "I'd be more comfortable if we could call in support—"

  "Absolutely not," Smith cut in, and Rachel was grateful. If it had been her, she doubted Rowan would take the demand as anything but selfish. "This town must be kept isolated. We've been given a blessing the world is not yet ready for. We must nurture it and understand it first before we can present it to the world."

  "That's an interestin' claim from a preacher," Jackie said.

  "I'm an interesting man."

  "If we keep everyone trapped here, things are only going to get worse," Rowan said.

  "They are," Rachel agreed. "You need to start putting in measures to keep things from escalating."

  "Isn't that why I started a curfew?"

  She shook her head. "Curfews aren't really effective. In normal circumstances they don't really do anything to reduce crime according to most studies. In emergencies they can be temporarily useful, but you need the manpower to actually enforce them, and somewhere to actually put the violators. We don't have either."

  "So what do you suggest I do?" Rowan asked sardonically. Rachel didn't appreciate his tone when she was trying to help, but she did her best to ignore it.

  "Close the bar and restrict alcohol flow for a while. As long as it comes from you it'll get some discontent but it won't set people off too much. They have their own drinks at home, sure, but with fewer places to gather and drink it's less likely to set off another incident."

  "You're going to set off a riot with just that announcement!"

  "I'm with her," Jackie said. "There's enough folks here that don't drink anyway, they won't care. The worst were all in the street today, and they just saw a real demonstration of what they're up against. They're gonna be more scared n' pissed than ever. We can keep them under control if they don' get too rowdy, and a bar lets them get too rowdy."

  "Fine! We'll do it your way," Rowan said exasperatedly. "You've got to handle something for me though, Rachel. I have a half-dozen calls from the east end saying something bizarre is going on. They're accusing your people of being responsible."

  "Something bizarre?" Rachel asked skeptically.

  "Well, I have reports of anything from shapes floating through the air to monsters roaming the streets and eating people's cats, so the hell if I know," Rowan snapped. "Just deal with it, would you?"

  Rachel's heart fell. It was Julian, she had no doubt. He was finally going ahead with his ritual plan. It had been council-approved, but she assumed he wasn't stupid enough to enact it anyway under their present circumstances.

  Evidently she'd severely overestimated his intelligence.

  "I'll handle it."