Warner 26
Warner
I quickly set the pager to silent, then scroll through the release of backlogged messages as they continue to come in. I’m scanning, as always, for those highlighted as priority, but there’s a knot of unresolved tension in my chest.
I don’t see anything from Ella.
Aya: Files sent. Can you confirm receipt when you have the chance?
Kenji: Weird shit alert. Think we found a rathole by the docks. Can I put James on this?
He’s begging for a job
It’s really pathetic
But also I respect it???
Gabriel: Sir, I’ve received urgent files for you. How would you like to read them?
Kenji: I’m going to put James on this
Speak now or I’m going to put James on this
Ian: Hey man these scientists are getting annoying again
Want me to lock them in their rooms?
James: STOP BEING A DICK
GIVE ME BACK MY JOB
Or tell me where he is
You choose
Kenji: Okay weirdo why aren’t you answering me
I thought we agreed James should be allowed to contribute to society again
Helloooooo
I just tried calling you but you didn’t answer
Why are you being weird
Gabriel: The medics say Rosabelle should be ready for release before the end of the night
James: So you’re just ignoring me now?
Great
Really fucking mature
Adam: Do you guys want to come by for dinner tonight? We’re having Kenji and Castle over
Oh shit
You know Castle is here, right?
Shit, was that a surprise?
Kenji: OMG
are you ignoring me?
why are you ignoring me
are you MAD at me??
Is this about Castle? Are you seriously upset I didn’t tell you he was coming in a week early?
Why are you like this
DRAMA QUEEN
CALL ME BACK
I can’t believe you’re mad at me
Sometimes surprises are good
Hello
***
bro
what the hell
FINE
I’m ignoring you too
Adam was going to invite everyone over for dinner tonight but I’m going to tell him to un-invite you
all right dickhead
it’s been over an hour
why are you mad at me
and not that I give a shit but can you at least confirm you’re not dead
I audibly sigh.
“What is it?” says Castle. “Everything okay?”
I shoot off a quick response to Kenji: I’m not mad at you
My pager buzzes.
Kenji: I don’t like your tone
I resist the urge to roll my eyes.
I’m trying to type I’m not ignoring you just as another torrent of notifications comes through.
I experience the first pangs of a headache.
“Sir?” Gabriel is watching me, expectant.
“One moment,” I say, scrolling through the bulk of new messages. “Things are coming in all at once.”
Gabriel: Sir, I’d like to recommend we schedule an emergency meeting to discuss the developing rumors
All pertinent documents and footage have been uploaded to your files
We’ve moved the battered foreign transport to a new, secure location and we have media doing damage control
But speculation has begun to spiral
I look up sharply. “What speculation?”
Gabriel’s responding astonishment is palpable, his fear and disbelief knotting together. “About your brother, sir.”
“Which brother?” Castle and I say at the same time.
“James, sir,” Gabriel says, then hesitates, his eyes darting briefly to Hugo. “As you know, sir, due to recent damage at the airfield, we’ve experienced some issues with our security systems.”
“What does that have to do with James?” Castle asks.
“This has to do with Rosa,” says Hugo, withering. “She scrambled our security systems at the airfield, didn’t she?”
I feel my blood pressure spike.
Gabriel glances between us, his anxiety escalating. “We—Sir, we believe an unauthorized member of the maintenance staff was able to access a secure hangar.” He pauses. “A hangar containing a classified vehicle.”
Fury nearly blinds me.
I have to marshal my rage before I can look down at my flashing pager, trying to kill the sudden pulse behind my eyes.
Gabriel: Footage of the damaged trike and its foreign tech have been disseminated across the nation
Have you spoken with James, sir?
We haven’t been able to figure out yet where these rumors started or who the sources are
It seems people are trying to find the connection between this story and the recent assault on the city
My jaw clenches. “What are they saying about him?”
Gabriel gives his head a slight shake. “They’re saying he infiltrated the Ark in direct defiance of your orders, all to stave off an imminent assault on the mainland.
They think the recent attacks might’ve been much worse if not for James’s intervention.
They’re saying there’s a rift in the family.
Some people believe you’ve been trying to keep it all quiet in order to protect your legacy as a hero. ”
“What?” Castle stands up, pushing away from the desk.
Hugo is staring at the wall.
“They’re saying”—Gabriel clears his throat—“that you shot your own brother, sir. In order to prevent him from telling the truth.”
I close my eyes, trying to talk myself out of a stroke.
It’s always the same. It’s always impossible to stem the tide of gossip, and these are the infuriating results.
Bits of truth braided into ropes of lies.
“Does James know about this?” I ask.
“I have to assume he does, sir,” says Gabriel, his nerves intensifying. He glances at Hugo again and chooses his next words with care. “James’s recent choices have made him the subject of a great deal of discussion and speculation. Especially among his fellow soldiers.”
“How excellent,” I say, the words clipped.
“For what it’s worth,” Gabriel adds, “these rumors remain unverified. We’re doing our best to bury it all as tabloid fodder.”
I exhale, attempting to release this anger.
“Continue to do what you can to bury it,” I say. “The last thing we need right now is another dramatic episode.”
“Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir. It’s just—”
“What?” I snap.
Gabriel glances at the pager in my hand. “There’s more.”
My vision turns white at the edges.
I pick up my pager again even as a blinding pressure builds between my temples.
Gabriel: Rosabelle is now conscious, sir
The medics are recommending she remain stable for at least another few hours
But they say she’s being uncooperative
She’s repeatedly attempted to leave her room
She’s also refusing to let them take her sweater, despite its bloodstains
This is the second time she’s insisted on keeping bloodstained clothing
It’s made them suspicious
But Rosabelle says she doesn’t have any other clothes
Adam: Shit okay I checked with Alia and she says it was supposed to be a surprise
Can you pretend to be surprised?
Don’t tell anyone I told you about Castle, or Kenji will try to kick my ass
I press a knuckle to the tension in my forehead.
Gabriel: She’s now demanding to have her pager back so that she can contact you directly
The medics are getting frustrated
Jing: Have you seen the files yet???????
Aya: Checking to see whether you’ve received the files
Adam: Hey by the way did Roman leave his dinosaur at your place? We can’t find it and he’s freaking out
Elias: Hello, sir, how is Rosabelle?
Adam: Never mind, we found it
I’ve just begun considering the benefits of throwing my pager in the garbage when it flashes with a single new message—
Hi, I love you :)
My body slackens. I stare at Ella’s message like I’ve taken a blow to the head.
Another flash.
Update: the girls are taking me on a walk and I’m excited to get some fresh air
Also, I’m fine! I promise! I feel good!
Also also, she writes, an important reminder:
You’re the smartest, nicest, cutest husband in the whole world and anyone who doesn’t agree with me is stupid and I’ll kill them!
Seriously
I’ll rip them to pieces
HUMAN SPAGHETTI
I love you so much!!
My chest craters.
Relief courses through me like molten gold, filling the cracks in my composure, quieting the erratic beat of my heart. I don’t realize I’m smiling until I register the sensation on my face.
“Mr. Warner,” Castle says gently.
I look up, around the room, at the three pairs of eyes studying me.
My smile evaporates.
“I should leave,” says Hugo, setting his coffee mug on a side table. “You’re busy, sir. I can come back another—”
“Stay,” I say, cutting him off. “I still have a few questions for you.”
Hugo’s fear escalates.
“Sir?” says Gabriel. “How would you like to receive the recent files?”
“Upload them to my drives. I’ll grab a tablet on my way out.”
“Yes, sir,” says Gabriel, who then turns to leave.
“Wait,” I say to him.
Gabriel waits.
I glance at the fading artificial light through the artificial window. The sun has nearly set. Warm lamplight has begun to come on around the room.
I fight a sigh.
There’s nowhere on earth I’d rather be right now than at home with my wife, but this day has proven unrelenting. I’ll need to be managing chaos for at least a few more hours before I can be offline for the night.
I return my gaze to Gabriel.
“Direct contact is okay,” I tell him, intentionally cryptic; I don’t want Hugo to know Rosabelle is in recovery again. “Retention of the sweater is fine.”
Gabriel nods, his eyes shrewd. “Yes, sir.”
“Tell Noah to grab dinner. I won’t need him for at least another hour.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And keep me apprised of the ongoing rumors. If things get worse, we might have to issue a press conference.”
“Yes, sir.”
“If something urgent comes up in the interim and you don’t hear from me, assume the comms are still down and come find me.”
“Yes, sir,” he says again. He waits a beat to see if there’s more, then retreats with a nod.
The door closes behind him.
Hugo and Castle look at me expectantly.
We need to wrap this up. I need to compartmentalize these other fires and focus.
“There was a reason you sought me out today,” I say, redirecting my attention to Hugo. “There’s something you came here to say. Go ahead and say it.”
Hugo swallows, and now his hands are trembling. He clasps them in his lap.
“I’m worried,” he says.
“About Sebastian?” I ask.
“No,” he says. Then, “I mean, yes, of course. Sebastian—Sebastian is— Well, I don’t know what he’s like now. But I knew his father, of course. I knew his father for years.”
“What kind of man was his father?” Castle asks.
“Was?” Hugo looks up. “Is Alastair dead?”
“Alastair?” I echo, the uncommon name tugging at my memory.