The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(84)

“Recovering the vids was the easiest part. Getting the SWD report on the incident was far more difficult, but I managed. Then it was encrypted. Which is when I asked Vaja to help.” Lindsey pulled up the report.

Dwayne squinted as he read. “There are still words blacked out.”

“That’s how it was written. Those blank spots are deliberate. As if the person reading it would already know how to fill it in,” Lindsey explained.

“So these unknowns that the SWD know about infiltrated the subway system and tried to break into the city,” Vaja summarized. “They killed the two in the station, but were afraid there would be more. So as they reviewed the security vids, they also dispatched a cleanup crew to make sure the neighborhood was secure.”

Overwhelmed by the information, Dwayne shook his head in disbelief. “It can’t be.”

“That there are people outside the walls?” Vaja asked.

Lindsey was watching Dwayne thoughtfully. He suspected she had come to the same conclusion he had.

“No, that there are Scrags smart enough to infiltrate the city,” Dwayne answered.

Incredulous, Vaja laughed. “C’mon. There has to be another answer. A human settlement has to be in the old facility. Maybe outcasts or criminals.”

“If only it were that simple.” Dwayne said nothing more, uncertain of how much Lindsey had divulged to her boyfriend. He hoped it wasn’t much more than Vaja appeared to know. From the confused expression on the younger man’s face it was clear he was having difficulty accepting what was obvious to Dwayne and Lindsey.

“How can Inferi Scourge be thinking?” Vaja asked at last. “All they want to do is infect. I don’t get it.”

Pressing her lips together, Lindsey began closing down the vids, saving all the information to a removable drive. She shot Dwayne a quick, furtive look. It was not difficult to ascertain she was beginning to worry about having drawn Vaja into the matter.

“Someone answer me,” Vaja said sharply. “I helped you. I deserve to know.”

“We don’t know yet,” Dwayne answered honestly.

Maria would have told him if any of her people had abandoned the mission. After her reports about the attacks by the speaking Inferi Scourge, it was clear to Dwayne that there was much more going on than the SWD had revealed to the public.

“Maybe they evolved,” Lindsey said softly.

“The government, the SWD, whoever, knows that they’re evolving then? Trying to get to us? Why haven’t they said anything?” Vaja’s voice was terse.

Dwayne remained silent, averting his gaze by staring at the tips of his boots. The young man was smart. Maybe too smart. Again, Dwayne wondered if it had been wise to involve Lindsey in this whole situation. It was becoming increasingly clear that the SWD and perhaps the governing powers of the city had gone to great lengths to suppress the information Lindsey had uncovered.

“Shit,” Vaja exclaimed, throwing up his hands. “Shit! They made them, didn’t they? The f*ckin’ SWD somehow made them and now they’re trying to get into the city.”

“We keep this quiet and among us,” Dwayne said in an authoritative voice. “They’re trying to suppress this information for a reason. They’re going to great lengths to make sure that the general public and even the Constabulary doesn’t know about these...anomalies.”

“Vaja will keep quiet. He’s paranoid enough as it is.” Lindsey’s eyes said much more than her words. Dwayne knew they would need to talk when Vaja was not around.

“I don’t want the f*ckin’ government coming down on me when we’re this close to finally getting our home back. I want out of this godforsaken city. Do you think I’m going to ruin my chances of getting the f*ck out of here?” Vaja growled. He paced back and forth, two sharp steps, then a quick turn, two sharp steps, then another turn. There wasn’t much room in Lindsey’s small flat.

Lindsey tossed the drive to Dwayne. He tucked it into his jacket and checked his wristlet. “I need to go. Keep this quiet. Lindsey, thanks for this, but you should probably stay out of the network.”

“Agreed. This is getting really...” she shrugged, biting her bottom lip. “What could they do to us? If the SWD found out?”

Running his fingers lightly over the small drive, Dwayne stared at the young woman thoughtfully. “Honestly, I don’t know. And I don’t want to find out either.”

Lindsey sighed, hugging herself.

“Good meeting you, Vaja. Thank you for your work,” Dwayne said, extending his hand to the pacing young man.

Vaja snarled at him dismissively. “I don’t think I like you. You may have gotten us killed.”

“Vaja!”

“Lindsey, you need to stay out of this. We all do. We’re so close to being free of this goddamn city.”

“So sacrificing the truth for freedom is okay with you?” Lindsey asked pointedly.

Vaja stopped in mid-step. “No.”

“That’s all we’re doing. Finding out the truth.” Lindsey reached out and took her lover’s hand.

“Why? What will you do with it?” Vaja rubbed her fingers, but stared at Dwayne.

“I’m not sure yet,” Dwayne answered honestly. He had searched for the truth because of the woman he loved, but now it was much more than he had ever imagined. Lindsey had wanted to release the information to the news outlets when she had discovered the truth about Maria. He had stopped her. That had been the right choice. But now, Dwayne wasn’t sure where the path of information they were uncovering would lead. There was enough trouble with the quickly-approaching food shortage and the possible evacuation to Section A.