Price of a Bounty (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) Read Online Free PDF Page B

told Keira about the Resistance. The
answer was, nothing.
    “No.
Circumstances were never right. And I guess I just wasn’t sure how
she would react. How long have you known her?”
    “Not
long, but it feels like we know each other pretty well already.”
    “Who
made the first move, if I may ask?”
    “She
did.”
    So
Keira had somehow learned about the Resistance, and she knew Rick was
a contact. What else does she know? Why did she contact him? Is
she interested in joining, or does she need help? Too little
information could be dangerous. It was time to tell her.
    “In
my opinion, she’s trustworthy but not trusting.”
    “Well,
I thought a good start might be roses, but I don’t know. Maybe it’s
too soon? Do you know what other flowers she likes – something
more casual perhaps?”
    “Flowers?”
This wasn’t about flowers. “I don’t know, but I can find out
for you.”
    “Thanks!
I’d really like to make a connection, if you know what I mean.”
    I
understood completely. Guy needed to get in touch with Keira, and it
was important. I looked at the time. Those drills wouldn’t run
themselves.
    “I
have to go. But I’ll talk with her soon and find out what kind of
flowers she likes. Good luck!”

-Keira-
    Double
Crossed for Sure

    It
was still a little too early to leave, so I sat down in my shabby yet
comfortable cranberry chair, leaned my head back and listened to some
more music. “I’ve Got Rhythm” began to play. As the
singer crooned about her man, a thought flitted through my head.
Could Richard be “my man?” I chuckled. Could any man?
Hardly. I knew it was better to be alone. Men were not to be
trusted. The Elite were not to be trusted. The Gov was not to be
trusted. Who was I kidding…most people were not to be
trusted.
    I
reached toward the end table and picked up a small wooden box.
Inside rested a shiny silver locket in the shape of a heart. I
opened it and gazed at two tiny photos: my mother and my father,
young, looking very much like April and Scott. From long ago, I
remembered feelings of safety and happiness.
    My
father had given this locket to my mother shortly after they’d met.
How did she know he was the man for her? What quality was it that
allowed her to trust him with her heart and her life? Family has
to start somewhere. Funny, I’d never thought about that before.
I wished I’d had the chance to ask her about love. Did she really
believe such a thing existed?
    I
believed in loyalty, not love. Loyalty was built through trust over
time. That was real. What was love in comparison? Oh, I believed
there was a biological connection between parents and their children.
I’d felt a strong connection with my mother and father, but I was
only eight when first my father and then my mother had…I closed my
eyes and stopped the tears. There was no point dwelling on pain like
that. I gently set the locket back in the box for safekeeping and
stood up. It was time to go.
    I
approached Mrs. Ramsey’s estate with a small pink suitcase in hand.
The butler opened the door. He looked down his nose at me.
    “Is
the lady of the house available?” I politely inquired. He
looked me up and down.
    “May
I ask who is calling?”
    “My
name is Miss Jones.” I smiled. “You may tell the lady
of the house that I have perfume to sample.” I opened the
suitcase and showed him my wares. He invited me into the front hall,
then left to alert Mrs. Ramsey.
    When
she arrived, she led me into the sitting room and invited me to sit
on an uncomfortable white chair. She rang a small silver bell. The
maid immediately brought in a tray with two steaming cups of tea on
saucers, a porcelain teapot and matching creamer and bowl of sugar
cubes. She placed the tray on a low glass coffee table and slid the
pocket doors closed behind her when she left.
    “I
was expecting money, not perfume,” Mrs. Ramsey said as she
lifted her teacup to her thin pale lips.
    “You
asked me to be discreet,” I