“I don’t think we’re quite done–” North said.
“Right now.”
North looked at Cass, but there really wasn’t any question. Swoop didn’t stand on ceremony and he certainly wasn’t above throwing a Council member out in the street if he thought it was necessary. And even as big as North was, there wasn’t much doubt Swoop could do it. North got to his feet, and Cass stood at the same time.
Gamble was still talking to Finn. “Let the guard know that the governor and Lady Cass have been moved to a secure location… yeah, wide net but scattered, I don’t want anyone localizing it.”
“Good luck, Lady,” North said. “Give me three days, and then check in.”
“Thank you, North. Watch yourself.”
He bowed his head slightly, and then turned towards the front door.
“This way, sir,” Swoop said. “We’ll go out the back.”
North nodded and returned, and Swoop escorted him into the back room. Gamble waited until they’d left the room to start talking again. “City’s going into lockdown, no doubt about that,” Gamble said. “If we’re going to get you out of here, we need to do it soon.”
“How soon?” Cass asked.
“Wick?”
“Depends on where we’re headed.”
Gamble looked at Cass.
“I think Wren knows a place,” she said.
“Better go wake him then.”
Cass nodded and went upstairs to Painter’s room. She knocked softly on the door and then opened it and peeked in. Painter was sitting up on the floor, his eyes glowing back at her. Wren was snoring softly. Painter got to his feet and motioned her in.
“Sorry to wake you,” she whispered. “I need Wren.”
“Wasn’t asleep any, ennnn, anyway,” Painter whispered back.
Cass entered the room and sat down on the bed next to her son. He was asleep on his stomach, slightly sweaty, mouth open. She rubbed his back.
“Wren,” she said softly. His eyes floated open immediately, but otherwise he remained completely still. An old habit she had trained him in. “Baby, we need you downstairs.”
He sniffed and rubbed his eyes and then nodded sleepily. He sat up and stifled a yawn.
“Do you want me to carry you?” Cass asked.
He shook his head and got to his feet.
“Should I come tuh-too?” Painter asked.
“Yeah,” Cass answered. “I think you better.”
They all returned to the main room together. Gamble had gathered Swoop, Able, and Wick around her in conference.
“What’s going on?” Wren asked.
“We’re leaving,” Cass said.
“Back to the compound?”
“No, baby, we’re leaving the city.”
He looked up at her with his big sea-green eyes, still glassy with sleep. There was surprise on his face, but a little smile formed on his lips, one he tried to suppress.
“Where are we going?” he asked, and she could hear hope in the question.
“Somewhere safe,” Cass said. “Where no one will find us. Do you know a place like that?”
Wren let himself smile then, and nodded.
“Then we need you to tell Wick where it is.”
“I have it marked,” he said. “Should I just ping it to you?”
“No, hold on,” Wick said. And then he said, “Hey, Finn.” He waited a moment, and then said, “I need to pull a grid off the Governor. Can you hook him in secure…? Alright, check.” He looked back at Wren. “Finn’s going to patch you in to our secure comms channel. Just to be safe.”
Wren nodded and waited. A moment later his eyes lit up, and he said, “Yes, I hear you… OK… Just like normal, though…? OK.”
Wren looked at Wick, who nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Finn.” And then Wick’s eyes rolled up slightly, almost like he was looking at the ceiling, and his brow furrowed for several seconds. “Whew, looks like that’s all the way out on the edge of the Strand.”
“It is.”
“Not sure how safe that’s gonna be.”
“It’s safer than you’d think. I stayed there for a few weeks. Before I came here.”
“What do you think, Wick?” Gamble asked.
“Yeah… yeah, I reckon it’d work. Probably see trouble coming from a mile off out there.”
“Alright, how long?”
“We did it in a day,” Wren answered.
“But in a straight shot?”
Wren nodded. “I think so.”
“Yeah,” Wick said, “I could see that. Maybe eight hours or so straight. But we’re going want to take a long way, I think.”
“Agreed,” Gamble said. She must’ve seen their confused looks, because she looked at Cass and Wren and added, “In case they send trackers out.”