“Crisis averted.” With a chagrined expression, Bubba Boom said, “Riley was right. Both wires should have been cut.”

“I got that,” I said, letting sarcasm edge my tone. “Do you know who built it? Who planted it?”

“I don’t recognize it. I’ll take it apart and see if I can learn anything.”

“Did you get a good look at the man?” Emek asked me.

“Just his back and the side of his face. Short brown hair. No facial hair. Average build. Between 1800 and 2200 weeks old.”

“That’s a big help.” Emek’s turn to be sarcastic.

I bit back a nasty reply. “Now what?”

“The Committee’s looking for you. And Anne-Jade wants to talk to you,” Emek said. “I’m surprised she isn’t here now.”

The thought of being questioned by Anne-Jade and the Committee made diffusing a bomb seem like a pleasant task. Then I remembered the ISF wanted me to finger Sloan and his friends, which I was loath to do. Add that to Riley leaving me and all I craved was to curl up in a little ball in the quiet solitude of an air duct.

Rat fetched a set of clothes for me from the laundry. He had grabbed the green shirt and pants that the infirmary workers wore. I dressed in Emek’s office. Anne-Jade’s voice pierced my haze of exhaustion. She waited for me beyond the door.

Glad I had taken my tool belt with me, I strapped it on, placed Emek’s chair on his desk and climbed into the air shaft. Once again I was avoiding confrontation. I didn’t go far. Dropping down into the middle of the recycling plant, I scattered a group of workers. I apologized and headed straight for the stairs. Others had also clumped together and from the bits of alarmed conversation I caught, they discussed the evacuation and bomb.

News of the attempted bombing could either work in our favor or ignite panic. If everyone kept an eye out for unusual activity and strange devices, it might stop the bomber from trying again, which would be good. Panic would bring nothing but trouble and more destruction.

I reached the infirmary without encountering any ISF officers. Unfortunately Lamont took one look at my face and accosted me.

“Trella, what happened?”

“It’d be easier to tell you what didn’t happen,” I said.

She swept my hair from my face and, for a second, I wanted to press her hand against my cheek. “I need to put a suture in your earlobe.” Inspecting my face, she frowned. “Who hit you?”

“Did you hear about the riot?”

“Of course. I needed to be ready in case there were injuries. Were you caught in the riot?” She tried to keep her tone professional, but alarmed concern dominated.

“Sort of. I…uh…started the riot.”

Lamont paused. “You’re serious.”

“Yep.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“All right. Come back to the exam room and I’ll fix your ear.”

As I followed her, I passed Logan’s empty bed. “Where’s Logan?”

She waited until I sat on the examining table before saying, “He’s in protective custody.”

“Arrested? The riot was my fault. Not his.”

Her eyebrows rose, but she smoothed them. “He’s not in the brig. With all the troubles, Anne-Jade felt he’d be better protected in a more secured location.”

Lamont filled a needle and approached. I flinched away instinctively.

She stopped. “It’s lidocaine. If you’d rather not—”

“Go ahead. Numb my earlobe please. I’ve had enough pain.”

“Little pinch and I’m done.”

Compared to the slap, falling to the floor, being doused with an acidic chemical and Riley breaking up with me, the pinch barely registered.

As she prepped the sutures, I tried to focus on something besides myself. “What about Logan’s vision? Isn’t he under your care?”

“I can’t do anything more for him. It’s just a matter of time.”

“Will he regain his sight?”

“His progress is promising, but I can’t guarantee it.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“No.” Lamont looped two stitches to close the tear in my lobe.

By this time, I could have fallen asleep on the exam table. Lamont trailed behind me as I headed toward my room. I stopped at the threshold. She hovered, rubbing her hands together. I had spent enough time with her to recognize her anxiety.

“No mothering. Remember?”

Although she didn’t look happy about it, she nodded.

“I just need to sleep for about a hundred hours. If anyone comes looking for me, can you tell them I’m not here?” I asked.

“Even Riley?”

My hands shook. Doubtful he would be looking for me. “Yes.”

“Okay, I’ll keep everyone out.”

“Thanks.” I collapsed onto the bed, crawling under the covers and muffling my sobs. Eventually, I would seek out Anne-Jade and tell her everything about the riot.

Too bad she found me first.

Startled from a deep sleep, I stared at Anne-Jade through puffy eyes. Confusion clouded my mind and her words failed to make sense. I rubbed my face in an effort to focus. My cheek throbbed.

“...hear me?” she asked. Grabbing my arm, she yanked me from the bed. “Do you even know how much trouble you’re in?”

I swayed on my feet, but straightened real quick when I spotted her two lieutenants standing behind her. “I—”