The Registry (21 page)

“Well, hurry. Follow me.” She turned and walked back into the building. Whitney bounced with joy behind her. Mia looked at Andrew for approval. He didn’t respond but instead walked behind Whitney. Mia sighed and entered the building.

It was about twenty stories tall and made of brick. The woman walked up the stairs with speed, waving her hand for them to follow her.

“We have a project. We can pay you each twenty dollars. It shouldn’t take you more than the afternoon, maybe the morning,” the woman said.

After climbing several flights, she pushed open a door to reveal an office. Multiple desks were set up with computers. Mia had to hide her wonderment. At the desks were women, all dressed like their mystery helper, working away at computers. Mia had never thought a place like this existed, not in America at least.

The woman kept walking toward the back of the office. Nobody looked away from her work. The side walls held private offices, most of them with closed doors, but the ones that were open showed men sitting at desks. Mia jerked her head forward to avoid drawing anyone’s attention, but these people seemed so dedicated she thought she could have sung opera music and nobody would have lifted their heads.

They were led to a bank of computers along the back wall. The screens faced outward so anyone in the office could see their contents. The woman signaled for them to sit and walked to her desk. She came back with three stacks of paper and handed one to each of them.

“Enter these. Just retype them into the program.” She leaned over Whitney’s shoulder and double-clicked a file. A page opened with spots for different information. Names, addresses, and other basic questions.

Mia was confused. She looked toward Andrew with bewilderment. She wondered if he knew what was going on, but, stone-faced, he opened the same program and began entering items. Whitney started clicking at the keys with enthusiasm.

It felt like a parallel universe had taken over. Mia was lost. She worried they had met the wrong person and this was a real situation where young men were being hired to work. It was the equivalent of farm help for the city boy. Andrew gave her foot a swift kick and signaled for her to start. She blinked away tears of frustration and opened the program.

She had never used a computer in her life. It was difficult, but Andrew looked just as awkward, while Whitney was right at home, following the instructions and catching on quickly. She told herself to remain patient. Even if this was a mistake, she knew she shouldn’t draw any unwanted attention. She began entering the information, wishing for the day’s end.

Chapter 39

Soldiers are always ready and prepared for battle. War is necessary to defend what is ours.

—The Boy’s Guide to Service

G
rant heard someone walk into the house and his eyes flew open. He checked the time; it was four P.M. A solid eight hours of sleep; he felt great. He heard a voice he assumed belonged to Frank calling for Alex. Grant decided not to stir; he propped himself up on one arm and waited for Frank to enter the bedroom.

“I’m starving, what do you want for . . .” Frank’s voice trailed off as he opened the bedroom door and saw Grant, lying in
his
bed, in
his
clothes. Grant winked and gave Frank a little wave. He was enjoying the look on Frank’s face. It was a nice mix of desperation, anger, and confusion.

“Sorry about the pajamas, but those silky ones weren’t me and I didn’t bring an overnight bag.” Grant swung out of bed. “If you give me a minute I’ll change back.”

“Where’s Alex?” Frank asked.

Grant was sure he didn’t need any introduction.

“Oh, so you’re looking for your spouse? You think I should tell you where he is?” Grant, never the bashful one, changed back into his shorts and polo while Frank looked on dumbfounded. “Let’s make a trade. Tell me where mine is and I’ll show you yours.”

“I don’t know—” Frank started to say before Grant cut him off.

“What is with you two and the lying? I don’t tolerate it well. You said you were hungry. Let’s go down to the kitchen. You can make me a snack.”

Grant pushed past Frank and strolled down the steps. He went into the kitchen and pulled out a container of leftovers. He searched the drawers for a piece of silverware. Frank followed.

“If you’re looking for a gun, I took them all. Couldn’t have you surprising me, and of course if you kill me you’ll never find him.” Grant picked at his food. “This is tasty. Did she help you make it? I haven’t had the chance to enjoy her cooking yet.”

Frank sat at the kitchen table. Grant thought the man was doing a good job remaining collected. He could tell a small sweat was breaking out on Frank’s forehead.

“We can make this quick and easy. You tell me where you took her and I’ll show you where Alex is, and since at this point it’s just me and no RAG agents present, as long as you tell me the truth, the two of you will face no charges for your vicious, dirty crimes,” Grant said.

Grant wanted to keep the room light. He didn’t like having to make deals like this but it was the best way to get what he wanted. He couldn’t believe the older man was not jumping on his offer. Grant decided to drive it home.

“I think your lifestyle is honorable, I do. It’s not for me, though. You see, you and Alex see each other as equals, and rightly so—you’re both males, both did your time in service, both have the same opportunities. I could never live life that way.” Grant walked toward the table. “I don’t want an equal, would never want an equal. See, if we were in different positions here, flipped spots, and you had Mia somewhere, threatening me, I would laugh at you. I wouldn’t care about her enough to give up. Your relationship makes you weak.”

Grant had hoped to elicit more of a response from Frank, but so far he was being difficult.

“If you don’t care about her, then why don’t you let her be?” Frank asked.

“Well, Frank, because I am me and she is mine.” Grant was about to lose his temper. “We both know this exchange of information is going to happen, so stop wasting my time.”

Frank gave Grant a smirk. It looked like he thought he had the upper hand. Grant wanted to bash the man’s face in and began to feel for his gun when it occurred to him that this was still the best path to take. This man was stupid enough to care about someone else more than himself.

“You know, I’ve had about twelve hours with your husband. Not all of them were fun.” Grant made an exaggerated frown and conjured up a baby voice. “I bet he’s in a lot of pain and scared, too.”

This tactic seemed to work. Frank couldn’t hide his distress anymore. Grant enjoyed watching him squirm in his chair.

“And if you even think of lying to me, I will hunt you both down and make sure you never see each other again. Maybe I’ll kill him and force you to spend the rest of your life as my personal servant.”

Grant could tell Frank was about to break.

“I’m not sure exactly where she is. I can tell you where I dropped her and what I know,” Frank said. “Outskirts of Saint Louis.”

Grant closed his eyes and smiled. It was a while since he’d been to the gateway of the West. He was thrilled with the idea of going to a big city. She was on his turf now. Frank continued with the details he knew, the three traveling together and whatnot.

“Well, good sir, a deal is a deal.” Grant rose from the table and opened the back door, urging Frank to follow. “I hope you learned your lesson from this and think next time you try to keep a man from his wife.”

The doors to the barn swung right open. Grant picked up a shovel leaning against the bottom of the stairs and tossed it to Frank.

“There is a piece of piping sticking up in the corner.” Grant pointed to skinny tube. “Dig down. The other end goes to your husband’s mouth.”

Fire glared in Frank’s eyes as he raced to the corner.

“You’re a psychopath,” Frank said as he dug.

“Thanks.” Grant strolled out the barn door and back to the SUV.

He called Leonard and explained he was coming back to the bar. Grant wasn’t surprised to hear that Leonard was grumpy. The RAG agents had been forced to sleep on cots in the back. Grant hung up the phone and made another call, setting up his helicopter and readying his team. It was time to put them to work. Turning up the radio, he drove back the way he had come, ecstatic that the chase wasn’t over yet.

Chapter 40

Girls who fail to wed will lack personal satisfaction. They will never know the feeling of pure love that a wife comes to expect every day of her married life.

—The Registry Guide for Girls

T
he afternoon was never-ending. Mia had such a hard time entering the names, her knuckles were cramping. Andrew looked even more uncoordinated. Whitney was moving along, finishing her stack and the majority of Mia’s. Mia couldn’t understand how Whitney was able to catch on so fast, but she seemed enthralled.

Mia noticed that men would exit their offices one at a time. Two or three women would stand and follow each man out, not even taking the time to shut down their computers. She guessed the man was married to all the women who followed him but remembered multiple marriages were forbidden. Mia’s father had told her that bit of information, but he had also said he expected the law to change sometime in the near future. He warned Mia that when she got older she might have to compete with another wife for her husband’s affection.

The sun had set some time ago, yet there were still three men and their work groups. An hour later it was down to one man, two women, their mystery helper, and them. Mia thought the office looked futuristic, doused in the rays of the screens’ light. Soon the last man poked his head out of his office. He was about sixty years old, balding and worn down. He walked over to their pods. Mia did her best to make it look like she was working hard. The noise of the keys’ clacking increased as he walked out.

“Are you finished?” His voice was angry.

All three stopped typing but didn’t move. Mia didn’t think any of them were prepared to speak.

“No.” The woman walked over and handed them each more paper. “I have more for them to do.”

The man grunted but didn’t seem to mind too much.

“I’ve got to get home to my wife, it’s getting late,” he said. “You three can come back tomorrow.”

The last of the women workers stood and prepared to follow him. He sighed and put on his cap. Mia and her friends rose to trail him as well. They started walking toward the exit in a group.

“Sir, these young boys are new in town, they don’t have anywhere to go,” their mystery helper said.

The man rolled his eyes, clearly not interested in their plight. “Fine, give them an empty room.” He walked at a brisk pace. Mia struggled to keep up without breaking into a run. “Just for one night, though, and it’s coming out of their pay. No food either.”

The group entered a small room. Mia didn’t know what they were doing. It was awkward for so many to stand in such a small space. The doors to the room closed and it began moving. Mia was terrified. They were going at a slow pace, but she couldn’t tell in what direction. She wanted to grab on to Andrew but knew it would be inappropriate.

“Cool,” Whitney said. The room crawled to a stop and the doors opened. They were somewhere different, a skinny hall lined with rooms on each side. Their guide stepped out and sped halfway down the hall. As the girls and Andrew followed her out of the moving room, she produced a key and opened a door.

“You’ll stay here tonight. The bathroom is at the end of the hall. Try to keep to your room. I don’t think there are any other people staying on this floor.”

The room was almost as small as the moving closet. A set of bunked beds took up the majority of the space. It wasn’t large enough for all three of them. Mia wanted to request another room but had a feeling it might not go over so well.

“Work starts at seven
A.M.
” She was leaving, but Mia saw the woman slip something into Andrew’s palm. The ding of the tiny movable closet sounded, and then the three of them were alone.

Mia threw her bag on the top bed and climbed up the side. She was surprised nobody was pouting about their small quarters. Whitney’s eyes focused on Andrew; she wanted to know about whatever the woman had handed him.

“Well?” Whitney asked.

“It’s a note. It says she’ll come back later.” Andrew yawned. “Till then we have to sit tight.”

“Wasn’t that the most fascinating work ever?” Whitney asked. “I didn’t know women worked like that, did you?”

“It didn’t look like they were having fun; most of them looked pretty unhappy.” Mia took some food out of her pack. “Keep your voice down.”

“I thought it was fabulous! What is this place?”

“A government building,” Andrew said.

“Is this a safe idea, working here?” Mia asked.

“It’s the only place women are allowed to work. All of these women are ‘married’ to the government,” Andrew said. “They all sleep somewhere in here, too. My guess is they’re not allowed outside much.”

“How do you know that?” Mia asked.

“Women were the teachers in the orphanage,” Andrew said.

None of her sisters had ever mentioned female teachers at finishing school, but then she remembered all the schools were private organizations.

“I thought women just got awful work, like being a maid or a factory worker,” Whitney said.

“Why did you think that?” Andrew laughed a little. “But it doesn’t matter. Whatever they do, it’s a terrible life.”

“I wouldn’t mind working like they did today. That wasn’t so bad.” Whitney sounded genuine. “It felt like I was using my brain, trying to figure out what keys to punch and how to do it fastest.”

“They work seven days a week, long hours each day. A lot of them get burned out and retired,” Andrew said. “I wouldn’t wish that life on anyone.”