The Complication (The Program #6)(65)

“You were no one, and we gave you a family,” she says. “Arthur took away your pain, helped you accept your new life. And whatever he did to you, to the others—it’s saving your life now. You’ll never fully crash back.”

“Why should we believe that?” Nicole asks Marie fiercely. “You didn’t save all your closers. You couldn’t save them from the epidemic—unless you’ve forgotten about Reed.”

“Oh, I’ve never forgotten about Reed Castle,” she says, smiling to herself. “And my and your father’s assessment stands. The procedure that Arthur Pritchard did to adjust your memories is the same one we’re trying to duplicate now. It could have worked in The Program, but after the epidemic took hold, regulations were loosened. Procedures were rushed. The corporation did this. And you can hate me and resent me all you want, but the fact remains: We’re here to save lives.”

“How can you even say that?” I ask. “How many have you ruined?”

“All returners will crash,” Marie repeats, leaning back on the table. “The Adjustment is the only way to stop it. We need the missing piece in order to prevent a massive tragedy.”

“You’ve controlled my whole life,” I say.

“We protected you.”

“And Wes? Why did Dr. McKee tell me to stay away from him? Why make me think I might kill him?”

“Because you and Weston . . .” Marie shakes her head, smiling softly. “You feel too strongly. Too deeply. It cuts through everything, even our Adjustments, we realized. After that, we decided it was best for you to stay apart. We were afraid you would remember. Crash back. We did it to keep you healthy.”

“At his expense?” I ask.

“Yes,” Marie admits.

“You’re a psychopath,” Deacon cuts in. “You—”

“Don’t,” Nicole whispers to him. Deacon glances at her, a flash of betrayal, and then he carefully untangles himself from her grip and moves to the other side of the room, far away from Marie. Nicole turns her attention back to Marie.

“I’ve had time to get used to what you and my father did,” Nicole tells her. “But it doesn’t mean I’m any less angry.”

“I know,” Marie responds.

Nicole studies her and then shakes her head. “I could never tell when you were lying,” she says. “I should have learned by now. And what you’ve done to this poor girl.” She motions to me. “Is there more that you haven’t told us?”

Marie nods. “Yes,” she says. “I need your help. I need you to help me understand Arthur Pritchard’s procedure. Because if we don’t figure it out, I assure you, The Program will.”

“You really think you’re part of a cure?” Deacon asks, disgusted. Marie looks over her shoulder at him. “What you did was about control,” he says. “You control people’s grief; you control their emotions. The grief department, The Program, the Adjustment—they’re all the same. And now you want us to help you do it again? Another fucking cure?”

“Deacon,” Nicole says warningly.

“No, Nic,” he says, his face pleading. “We’re not doing this. We’re not—”

Nicole shrugs helplessly, signaling that she will help Marie, and Deacon lowers his eyes, defeated. I get the impression that Nicole has the final word on this. I, on the other hand, am still in shock. I can’t even wrap my head around what Marie’s told me. It’s not real.

I’m not real.

A stabbing pain hits between my eyes, and I wince and rub at the spot.

“You okay?” Nicole asks me, and I tell her that I am. I force myself to stand up straighter, and the severe part of the pain passes, leaving an ache. Nicole turns back to Marie.

“What do you need from us?” she asks.

“First, I have to find someone—I’ll need his expertise. And I’ll need his protection once we have the cure. I’m hoping he can fill in for Tom.” She presses her lips together sympathetically at Nicole.

“Who is it?” Nicole asks.

“My ex-husband.”

This makes Deacon look up suddenly. “You were married ?” he asks.

Marie nods that she was and smiles. “It was a long time ago,” she says. “He works for the FDA now, partnering with the CDC since the epidemic. But we started together in the grief department. His name is Luther Williamson, and I’m sure he’s somewhere in Seattle. We’ve lost touch.”

“What do you want us to do?” Deacon asks, suspicious of her intent. But he must still have some connection to her, because he waits for her direction.

“I want you and Nicole to find him—it’s what you do best. Tell Luther that I need his help finishing this. He’ll know what to do.”

“And me?” I ask.

“Once I figure out what to look for,” she says, “we’ll need to do a procedure.” She pauses a long moment, looking me over. Deciding something. “But first,” she says finally, “I need you to bring Michael Realm to me.”





CHAPTER THIRTEEN


I DON’T AGREE TO BRING Michael Realm to the Adjustment office, and not just because I have no idea how to get ahold of him. I asked Marie why she needed him, and her simple response was “information.”