Free Deviation by Heather Hildenbrand

worried.”
    “The voters, the wealthy ones, are having a fit about it. There is a growing group that wants to do something that sets them apart. Or, more specifically, sets the poor apart. Segregate the city. They think if they keep the undesirables out of their territory, it will make it harder for the thieves to gain access.”
    “Set them apart how?”
    “That’s the big question. It’s a whole debate within Congress right now. First, they said thumbprints or even palm scans were what we needed. Your level of access to certain places in the city would vary depending on your income and social standing. But there’s also talk of that not being enough. They want a way to see proof, to walk up to someone and identify the person as safe or not.” He snorts on the last part.
    I bite my lip, merging this information with what I heard. “The man said they needed the next batch to be loyal, no deviating, so they can put it all in place to stop it once and for all.”
    “Did you hear anything else that might be able to identify him?”
    “He said he’s running a campaign of some sort.”
    Linc sighs. “Everyone in this world is running a campaign of some sort.”
    We’re both quiet for a moment. I mull over the impossible task of identifying one politician in a sea of them. “I overheard them talking about Daniel and Melanie not giving Titus the information he wanted about his missing Imitations,” I say quietly.
    “That’s not a surprise. We both know they didn’t talk.”
    “I know, but apparently they aren’t the only ones he’s questioning.”
    “Who else is there?”
    “Raven. He has her locked in Twig City. I think he’s … torturing her. He knows she betrayed him.”
    “Dammit,” he mutters.
    I think of Melanie. My eyes well and it makes me angry. I blink them back, refusing to dignify the tears with a swipe of my hand. “The stranger called her Raven number six.”
    Silence. The jazz plays on. Then, “What do you mean?”
    “I don’t know what I mean. He just called her that. He said, ‘how’s Raven number six?’ and Titus answered him like that’s her name. She’s number six, Linc. I don’t know what to think about that.” I lick my suddenly dry lips. “How many of me are there?”
    He moves to hug me but I stop him. “I can’t. I just need to know.” I shove my chin out a little. “I need to be proactive. So I stole a scrambler.”
    “A scrambler?” he repeats.
    “It scrambles me. So I can get to them. It’s step one.”
    “And what’s step two?”
    I don’t think he expects me to have an answer, but I do. It’s all I’d thought about as my feet had padded over the soft carpet on my clandestine mission earlier. It’s all I think about now as I tell him, “He can’t kill anyone else I promise to protect.”
    He sighs. It’s not the response I was hoping for. “I’m sorry, Ven. I know what happened with Melanie upsets you.”
    The tears are back. I’m not sure I can keep them away this time. “Why didn’t she just tell him what he asked?” I whisper.
    “You know why. She promised him.”
    It takes me a moment to realize the ‘him’ he means. “Daniel. She was keeping quiet for him.”
    Linc nods. “I think so.”
    “We promised too.” The thickness in my throat is too much. A tear escapes and tracks down my cheek.
    “I know we did. I …” I hear the frustration creep in. I recognize it because it sounds just like it did the last time. He’s afraid. I let him talk. “Shit, Ven, I told you back when you made that promise how impossible it was. There was no way to get to her without exposing us. Without exposing you. I can’t … I won’t endanger you for anyone.”
    “I know that. It wasn’t your promise to honor. It was mine.”
    “Your promises are my promises.”
    “Still, you were right. I wasn’t being proactive. I was sitting around waiting for you to take care of it. I won’t do that anymore.”
    “That’s why you stole the