Chapter Thirteen

Kevin's message

The next day, I visited Kevin. I knew Brian would be working in the laundry service and dreaded seeing him again. The only way into the apartment was through the shop. 

A bell chimed as I opened the door. Brian strolled to the counter from the back. 

"Hey, girl. Come to your senses?" he asked. 

"Give me a break. I am here to see Kevin. Is he home?" 

"Aw come on, how about a little bit of sympathy. Look at my face." He pointed to his swollen lip. 

"What makes you think I care? As much as you harass me, you deserved it." 

He put his hand on his chest. "My feelings are hurt." 

"Are you going to answer my question or do I have to go find out for myself?" 

He sighed dejectedly.  "Yeah, he's home." 

"Thank you." 

I brushed past him and up the stairs, which opened into a hall. Heavenly aromas filled the air.  I found Kevin in the kitchen at the end but he did not notice me arrive. I was surprised to see he had put on a little weight. His disheveled auburn hair told me he did not expect any visitors. 

"Smells wonderful," I said. 

Kevin dropped the ladle and spun around, grabbing his chest. The ladle bounced and sprayed gravy over the cook-top. "Lily! You startled me." 

"I did not mean to." 

He grabbed a towel from the sink and wiped up the mess. "What's going on?" 

I shrugged. "You know me, the master of mayhem." 

A crease formed over his green eyes. "I am glad you came. Let me finish this. Sit down." He motioned to the table with a trembling hand.  "Did you bring something to drink?"

"I hope you are joking.  You are not going to get me in trouble with Kira."

His shoulders slumped.

"Too bad you cannot be a chef. I love your cooking," I said as I sat down. 

He grinned like a smitten schoolboy. "I wish I could too. I don't think we'd make ends meet if I quit my job now." 

"How are things for you?" 

"Gets harder week by week, staying away for so long. We want kids, but I do not want to raise them in this place. Especially if I am away." 

"Brian's here with Kira." 

He stopped stirring and stared, wide-eyed and mouth agape. "I do not believe you."  His hands motioned down as he continued. "That kid is a spoiled baby. He cannot manage to protect himself. Did you see his face?" 

I laughed. "Did he tell you what happened?" 

"He said he got into an altercation the other night." 

"A fight he started because I brought someone to the club the other night." 

He laughed so hard he snorted. "That is good news. A boyfriend?" 

I thought about the kiss and my face felt hot. "He's not a boyfriend." 

"Uh huh. Your secret is safe. We aren't the gossiping type." 

"So what's been going on?" 

His face turned somber again. "You really shook up the leadership. What did you say to them?" 

"I am embarrassed to admit it, but I spoke out at the leadership meeting. Williams called me out in front of the whole room. He makes me so mad." I shook my head. "I should have known better." 

He turned back to his pot and stirred. "You need to be careful. Something big is in the works. They think you are trying to incite a rebellion in the city, to overthrow the current leaders." 

"That is stupid. Why would they think that?" 

"Your name. Apparently, before Truck Andrews left, he tried to persuade Charles Payne to hold elections. But then he packed up his family and left." 

My brain felt numb. I never thought there would be repercussions for using the Andrews name. "Who else knows?" 

"I don't think anyone. Maybe it is not that bad. There is so much injustice in this city. Something needs to change before the city reaches the boiling point and people get hurt. Right now, the Peacekeepers are under Payne's thumb." His head turned toward me. "If he were to be taken out of power, we can start fixing it." 

"Why are you looking at me like that? I am the leader type you are looking for," I said. 

"Do not sell yourself short. You are selfless; everyone respects you, ordinary citizens and Peacekeepers, alike. The people like you. They trust you." 

I slumped forward with my head in my hands. "Trust and confidence built upon deception. Lies I told them. What do you think will happen when they learn the truth? I did not come to this city to depose the leaders like they think or because you think I should." I put my hands down looked him in the eyes. "Don't forget the other side of this. The Church members believe in Charles Payne. They truly believe they are the chosen and they deserve better than anyone else." 

"Yes, but it is not an insurmountable problem. With Peacekeeper support..." 

I cut him off. "You will be gone next week. Who is supposed to do this?" 

"Every city has a share of displaced agents who will return. The soldiers are loyal to the General. If he is converted to our side, there is the support we need." 

"Why would he join our side? What would we possibly offer him to turn traitor?" 

"I am not saying it'll be easy nor will it transpire overnight. Tell me you will keep an open mind. The winds of reform will come. We need you here." 

"You are right. Things do need to change. But I still think you need to find some else to be your leader." 

Kevin sighed. "Just consider the possibility." 

They were wrong. I was not the leader they were looking for. Good thing Alain was not acquainted with Kevin, because they would probably gang up on me. 

"Any details about when or where they are going to come after me?" I asked. 

He made his way over to the table, wiping his trembling hands on a rag. "Soon, early in the year. There is also a group of people living in the mountains have been snooping around." 

"The mountain rebels, right?" 

"You've heard of them?" 

"It was mentioned at the meeting before I was thrown out. Also, supposedly, shipments are missing." 

"They're not stealing but that is not what the reports say."

"I knew something was not right. What are they trying to hide?"

"An old friend lives over on the east side. He says he sees cars driving up to that factory in the middle of the night." 

"The place surrounded by barb wire?" 

"That's the one. That is where they make it." 

"It?" 

"The drug in the beer and wine." 

I stared off through the window. My chest tightened with each breath. I did not want to believe it. My voice cracked. "What does it do?"

"I am not read into that program yet."

"Well, I appreciate the information. I was hoping this would all blow over if I kept to myself." 

"What are you going to do?" 

I shook my head. "I am not sure yet. I don't know what I can do." 

"If you need anything, I am happy to help." 

Heavy footsteps thumped on the stairs. Brian promptly appeared in the doorway. 

"What are you doing?" Kevin demanded. 

"I am hungry. You are torturing me with the food cooking up here." 

We watched him take meat, cheese, and bread out of the refrigerator. Then he sat down at the table. We stared at him. 

"What?" His head snapped back and forth between us. 

"Why don't you eat downstairs? The grownups are talking," Kevin said. 

"No. I live here too." 

Kevin stuck a finger in his face. "Listen, smartass, you have three seconds to pick that s**t up and go downstairs. Or I'll bloody your other lip." 

Brian snatched his food and stomped his feet the entire way down the stairs. "I am telling Kira how you're talking to me," he shouted from the bottom. 

"Good!" Kevin yelled back. 

I chuckled to myself. 

"What's so funny?" Kevin grumbled. 

"You two. He's going to tell his big sister on you." 

We both laughed out loud.

"He gets on my nerves. I don't think he's ever going to grow up," Kevin said. 

"Any more good news?" 

"Yes. Are you aware of the plans to build Churches in the outer cities?" 

A feeling of dread swept through my core. "No." 

"The buildings won't be completed anytime soon. Williams has us disrupting the progress." 

"That doesn't make any sense." 

"No one dares ask him why." 

"I hope you don't think I should." 

He smacked a hand on the table. "Hell, no. You are in enough trouble. I am not sure what to do except what we are told. If they mandate attendance, no one can predict the consequences." 

I grunted and huffed heavily. Brent must have had a motive for hindering the construction. I could not think for the life of me what the reason would be. 

Kevin reclined in his chair. "Did I ever tell you that Brent and I were best friends growing up?" 

I stared at him. "No." 

"Sometimes people have good intentions and they just go about it in the wrong way." 

"Then why don't you ask him about it?" 

"In front of everyone? Sure, maybe if he went out drinking with us, I could. It's not like we're friends anymore." 

"Why are you mentioning this now?" 

He shrugged. "I don't know. Don't be so hard on the man." 

I pushed the chair back from the table. "Any word from Noah?" 

"Noah? No. I am guessing you haven't either." 

I shook my head. "Not in a long time." 

"You are the one who is here. You're never going to stop hearing this. We hear about how you help Mrs. Spencer, how you spend your free time at the orphanage, and you know they aren't the only good people in this city who need you." 

After his little speech, I was ready to leave."Thanks again, Kevin." 

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" 

"Nah, I'd better get going. I don't want to monopolize your time." 

He hopped up and over to the stove, filled a cup with stew, and handed it to me. "Here, for the road." 

I breathed in deep. "You have made my night."

We said goodbye and I headed home. My visit left me with more questions than answers. What could I do? I didn't want to leave the city now that Ari was in my life. Someone was plotting against me, but what could happen to me? If I suddenly disappeared, there would be questions and could not be swept under a rug. An accident? Even then, I usually was not alone. The Church construction vexed me. Brent was the Paynes' lackey. I had always witnessed him doing whatever they wanted, including their little stunt at the meeting. I needed more help. I couldn't figure it out on my own.