The Pulse Series (Book 1): Pulse Read Free Page B

play in the park. Trey sat down next to me, his once empty pockets on his cargo pants full of stolen property.
    Being a solo pickpocket was a fine way to make a living, but having a partner made everything so simpler. Instead of waiting for and capturing the perfect opportunity you had the ability to create your own. We had been out for most of the day, and the sun was starting to head toward the horizon. We would only be able to sit here for half an hour before heading back to our corner of the city. It wasn't wise to be caught out after dark.
    As I lay there watching I became aware of the pain in my chest again. It had gotten worse through the night, but wasn't anything that caused me anything more than mild discomfort. The thought of pain in my chest caused me to remember something, and I glanced at Trey out of the corner of my eye. "How's your mom doing?"
    I saw him wince then quickly school his face into a nonchalant expression. "She's fine."
    I frowned, but didn't press the issue. His mom had gotten a cough a few months beforehand that had steadily gotten worse since. The last time I'd seen her, two weeks ago, there had been flecks of blood in the tissues she help up to her mouth. What I'd said about spending money on medicine was just as relevant for Trey. The medical system in this country had never been good, but ever since Washington fell, health insurance premiums had skyrocketed leaving even most middle-class people without the safety net.
    I looked over to the kids playing on the playground nearby to force myself to relax. Getting angry at the system was useless. People are greedy. They always have been and they always will be. Any way to manipulate a situation into profits can and will be exploited by those in a position to do so. Letting it get me down wouldn't help anything.
    After a few more minutes Trey stood and offered me a hand. I took it and rose, gathering up my things. After Trey made sure nothing had fallen out of his pockets the two of us started walking.
    In front of us there was a small mobile activity spot set up on the sidewalk. Two military police officers sat behind a table. Behind them was another of the posters I had seen earlier. Report suspicious activity.
    As we walked we passed one of the officers glared at us. I would have been offended, but it was hard to get to uppity about police mistrusting you when you had actually just committed crime. I set my eyes back on the path but the second officer stood up and held a hand out.
    "You guys got a few minutes?"
    I winced, but Trey turned to smile at him. "Certainly officer, but only a few. My sister and I need to get home before dark."
    The officer who was still sitting snorted. "Sister? You expect me to believe the two of you are related? You've got about two feet of difference in height between you, and she's got the reddest hair I've ever seen."
    "Now now, Jim, if they say they're brother and sister I'm going to believe them until it's proven otherwise." The man turned back to us with a smile. "My name's John. You kids seen anything unusual today?"
    Trey shook his head. "No, sir. Nothing out of the ordinary."
    "You sure about that? No people hanging around where they shouldn't be?"
    Jim snorted again. "John, they have probably been hanging around where they shouldn't be. Let them on their way."
    John frowned down at his partner, but smiled again when he looked up at us. "Okay, you kids best get home now, but you be sure to tell us if you see any suspicious activity."
    Trey nodded, and I gave the man a small smile. The two of us turned and walked away from the pair.
    Although not an unusual sight in the city, that had been the first time I had been stopped by the military police. They set up their little mobile stations around the place under the guise of being ready to take any reports from the ever watchful public. Most people I knew thought they were there to try and make anyone in the area think twice about committing any crime. It