Code(109)

Finally, playing the boss card, Kit had ordered his employees to evacuate Morris. Then he’d sped toward downtown in his 4Runner after browbeating the police into letting him cross the bridge. Once on the peninsula he’d stalled, having no idea where to look.

Then Katelyn closed in.

Fearing the worst, Kit tried the hospital, where an MD swore he’d seen a group of teens sprinting down Calhoun Street. Having no other plan, Kit hurried back out to his 4Runner and drove as far as the downed trees and smoking black truck.

That’s when he’d heard gunshots. Terrified, he’d raced ahead on foot, eventually stumbling into Marion Square.

Spotting me, Kit had shouted my name.

I hadn’t turned. Instead I’d run the other way.

Kit was about to pursue when a flying trash-can lid clocked him from behind. He’d dropped to a knee, momentarily stunned. When he’d recovered, I was gone. Then he’d spotted a gunman in the plaza aiming at Hi. The headlong assault had been pure reflex.

Super Dad hadn’t let me out of his sight since.

I barely listened to Hi and Shelton’s recitation. I was watching Ben.

He didn’t speak. Avoided my gaze. Then he stood and strode down the hall.

I popped up and started after him. Coop rose to follow, but I gently shooed him back with one hand. Though displeased, he lay down beside Hi and closed his eyes.

“Don’t go anywhere!” Kit called to my back. “You’re not to leave this hospital!”

I turned. “Dad, it’s over.”

Kit stared at me intently, then nodded.

An hour earlier, we’d flagged an emergency vehicle sent to investigate the exploding F-150. The police had loaded everyone into vans and driven to CMH. Hearing our story, and seeing the guns, they’d taken the Gamemaster into custody. A full investigation would have to wait until after Katelyn passed.

There’d be questions. Statements. The whole shebang.

My interrogation couldn’t wait.

I found Ben on a stool in an empty examining room, head in his hands.

He was waiting for me.

“I saw.” No point mincing my words.

Ben didn’t look up. “In my head?”

“Yes. You met with the Gamemaster aboard Sewee.”

“Twice.” Ben sat back, but didn’t meet my eye. “His name is Simon Rome. At least, that’s the name he used at LIRI.”

I’d thought myself prepared. Was wrong.

“Ben, no! Why?” I felt the walls caving in around me.

“No one was supposed to get hurt!” Ben lashed out and kicked a trash can across the room. “It was just a stupid game!”

He spun away, shoulders trembling. I sensed that he was crying.

I took a deep breath. “Tell me everything.”

Ben sniffed. Ran both hands over his eyes. Then he faced me, wearing a look of total devastation.

“Tell me,” I whispered, close to tears myself.

Ben slumped on his stool. Said nothing.

I positioned a chair opposite him, sat, and leaned forward. “Tell me,” I repeated for the third time.

“I met Rome on the LIRI dock,” Ben said dully. “He was the new mechanic, had only been working at the institute a few months. I’d see him every few days, and we kinda got to be friends.”

“Why did you never mention him?”

“I don’t know.” Ben scuffed at the floor with his sneaker. “I don’t have a lot of friends, not like you. I guess it was just nice hanging with someone else. Someone older.”

Not like me? What was Ben talking about?

“I . . . told him things.” Ben’s face reddened. “Personal things. After that he came up with this big idea.”

Though I wanted to know what things Ben had told the Gamemaster, I needed to keep him talking. “The big idea. Was it The Game?”

“It was going to be fun,” Ben said bitterly. “A series of codes and puzzles. And the best part was, I’d look smart and cool. We’d set up these tricky games, then I’d solve the clues and be a hero.”

“But why?” I couldn’t understand his thinking. “You didn’t have to impress us. We know you. We’re your friends. Your family.”

For a long moment Ben didn’t speak. Then, “I’m so stupid.”

I was about to respond, but he cut me off.

“I pushed Hi to buy that metal detector. He thinks it was his idea. It wasn’t. Then I started making fun of geocaching, all the time knowing he’d end up wanting to play the game. It worked, too. In no time I’d led everyone to the Loggerhead cache.”

“The puzzle box. The coded message.”

“The box was simple, and I knew Shelton would crack the cipher. But I saved the shining moment for myself.” His voice become mocking. “Look at Ben! He solved the altered coordinates. He’s so wonderful. On to Castle Pinckney!”

His sneaker slammed a nearby cabinet. “What a moron!”

“The second cache exploded.” My tone sharpened. “Cooper was hurt.”

Ben shook his head miserably. “That’s when I knew the jerk had double-crossed me.”

I waited for Ben to go on. He did.

“The Game wasn’t supposed to be dangerous. Then Pinckney happened. That monster rigged the cache with diesel fuel, then detonated a frigging bomb in Battery Park. It was all totally off script. I’d never seen that iPad before, and didn’t know the pictogram or the chemical equation. Now Rome was threatening to hurt people. That wasn’t part of the deal!”