Free Enigma Black by Sara Furlong-Burr Page B

time. I just wheel around and kick them where the sun doesn’t shine. That usually solves the problem.”
    “What if you wheeled around and no one was there?”
    “You mean, like a ghost or something? Celaine, didn’t I tell you not to take those pills with alcohol… geez… kids these days.”
    “Damn… that would explain the slurred speech and the soiling of myself. Really… Veronica.”
    “Seriously? Well, if you want my opinion, I would say you’re probably being a little over imaginative as logic should tell you that, if there is no one there, there can’t possibly be anyone watching you.”
    “That’s kind of what I thought.”
    “Quit sweating it. If it happens again, call me up and I’ll take you to the place with the lovely padded rooms and the stylish white jackets.” She winked at me.
    “Thanks, Veronica… I think.”
    “Anytime.” Veronica walked back to the front of the bank, launching her daily assault at Travis on her way.
    Ding. Ding. Ding. The tone sounded, startling me, causing the file I’d picked up from the corner of my desk to fall out my hands. In the middle of the lobby, a monitor methodically lowered down from the ceiling, turning on in its descent. Around the same time as the institution of the curfew it’d become mandatory for all public facilities to install these monitors. They were to be used, presumably, in the event of an attack or for evacuation notifications. In my opinion, President Brooks just wanted to have the undivided attention of his flock hanging on his every word. Simultaneously, everyone stood up to leave their respected posts in order to gather around the monitor. Seconds later, President Brooks came into view.
    “My fellow Americans,” he began.
    “How original,” I muttered. Veronica shot me an amused look.
    “A horrible tragedy has befallen our country with the sudden death of one member of a rogue vigilante duo. For the past few years, this duo has heroically charged themselves with the task of seeking and destroying what has become a very real threat to our country: The Man in Black. Unfortunately, it was during one such encounter recently that one of our country’s own superheroes met their fate…”
    I rolled my eyes and headed back to my office.
    “Celaine, aren’t you going to watch this?” Travis asked, shocked with my insubordination.
    “Nope, I’ve had enough hot air for one day. I‘m beginning to break a sweat.”
    Veronica giggled. President Brooks continued, “Our resolve remains strong, and our fight to make our country safe again will continue. We as The People will take down The Man in Black and right the injustice that has been brought upon us…”
    I closed my office door.
    The rain let up during the lunch hour, allowing the sun to peek out from behind the clouds. I decided to go out for lunch to take in the fresh, moist air—the one good thing about the rain. Taking my cardigan off, I headed out the door and walked down the street. My morning talk with Veronica had helped to set my mind at ease, for now. Everything she’d said made perfect sense. It’s funny how logic could bring you down to earth when your head was in the clouds.
    There was a small diner adjacent to the bank. The atmosphere wasn’t great, but the food more than made up for that. It was a grease lover’s haven of saturated fat, and I both loved and loathed its proximity to me. Thankfully, the line wasn’t very long today, allowing me to walk directly up to the counter to order my usual turkey sandwich with soggy french fries. Taking my tray, I sat down in a booth in one corner of the diner.
    As I sat down to eat, I took my phone out of my purse, revealing a missed call from Carrie, Chase’s mother. Shortly after we’d begun dating, I adopted Chase’s family as my own. They’d reminded me so much of what I‘d lost. Through them, I almost felt as though I’d reclaimed a part of what I’d lost at The Lakes. Chase’s sister, MaKayla, had the same