Swarm Read Free Page B

another twenty by the end of the hour, to keep the build consistent with last month’s.
    Mierda. It figured Ethan would never understand the controlled part of a controlled experiment. His dereliction of duty probably had to do with the girl beside him. She had silver hair with a magenta streak and was waving her sparkly phone around, snapping pictures. Exactly the sort of trendy cutie that Ethan always widened his eyes for, when he wasn’t busy pining for Kelsie.
    Though this girl looked oddly familiar . . .
    Nate went to the end of the line, ignoring the glimmers of confusion from the crowd. Where’s the door guy going? Isn’t it five minutes yet?
    â€œUh, hey,” Ethan mumbled as Nate approached. “This is Sonia.”
    â€œNice to meet you. Ethan, is there any reason you’re not . . .”
    Nate’s words faded—Sonia . . . Sonic ? The one person in all of Cambria who was committed to exposing the Zeroes. And here she was, taking a picture of Nate.
    â€œCan I ask you some questions about your nightclub?” Sonia asked, keeping the phone steady as she talked. Not photos— video .
    â€œIt isn’t my . . . ,” he began, but it was too late. Sputtering denials and raising his hand to cover the lens would only make him look guilty. He had to get her inside the Faraday cage of the Dish before the video was backed up to the cloud.
    Which meant she had to keep shooting.
    â€œIt isn’t so much a club as a party.” He smiled for the camera, then turned and beckoned her to follow. “Would you like a tour?”
    Sonia nodded happily. Ethan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Good. Nate didn’t need the voice butting in.
    â€œThis is only our third event,” he said. “We always open the third Saturday of the month.”
    That would have to change now, of course. But they could always scare up a new crowd. And switching the schedule around would make it harder for the police to crack down on them.
    â€œI’ve heard it’s the best party in town,” Sonia said. “Can I ask what makes it . . . special?”
    Nate almost lost his smile at that last word. Sonia Sonic knew a little too much about the specialness of the Zeroes.
    Way too many people read her posts since last summer, and she was getting D-list Cambria famous. Nate even heard people murmuring her name as he walked her back to the front of the line. She was a problem, and would continue to be a problem.
    But first things first—Nate had to deal with her phone. Sonia didn’t like posting without pictures.
    â€œWe’re just about to open,” he said as they reached the doors. “But maybe get a shot of the line first. Big crowds are good PR.”
    â€œRight. Of course.” She turned back and lifted her phone high. Everyone was stirring to life, attention and anticipation crackling off them like sparks from a hot wire. A couple of people waved for the camera.
    While she was busy shooting, Nate opened the door and signaled for the bouncer waiting just inside. The guy was a mass of muscle, too intimidating to keep in plain sight this early in the evening.
    â€œTake a message to Chizara,” Nate said softly.
    â€œOf course, Mr. Saldana,” answered the Craig, his eyes brightening. The Craig had a thing for Chizara—or for Crash , to be accurate. A thing that was not unlike worship.
    â€œThis girl can’t leave with her data intact.” Nate nodded at Sonia. “Phone equals brick.”
    The Craig frowned, but by now he was used to the Zeroes saying strange things. “Got it, boss. That girl—brick her phone.”
    Nate gave him the full wattage of his approval. Incorruptibleand unimaginative, the Craig was the perfect employee for an illegal nightclub. He would never betray Crash, not since he’d seen her destroy the Parker-Hamilton Hotel with a wave of her hand.
    Craig was