The Scribe Read Free Page A

truly interested in joining us. Although I must say, I’m surprised to see a contractor showing up on my doorstep.”
    A contractor. The term scratched my mind. Some jackers sold their mindjacking favors to readers, using go-betweens to set up the transaction anonymously. That must be why the mask. But Julian made a good point. Why was a contractor showing up here at all? Julian’s revolutionary business wasn’t the type that would interest mercenaries. There was no money in it that I could see.
    “I’ll keep the mask, thanks.” She glanced over her shoulder. Another young woman stepped into the doorway, her long blond hair wisping in the breeze. “I’m only being paid to make sure Ava made safe passage here.”
    I tensed my grip on the gun. I should have known to search farther than the door. This Ava person was slender, almost painfully thin—the winter breeze might tumble her down the street with a strong gust. But that meant nothing; it was her mind that posed a threat. I was about to surge into her head when Julian threw a hand across my chest. I wasn’t planning to attack her, I just wanted to know what we were facing. I held back, hoping that he had a plan.
    Julian gave the contractor one of his warm, trust-me-I-know-what-I’m-doing smiles. “I can assure you that your charge is in safe hands now.”
    Sure, she was safe. The girl had little to fear from us, unless she or her contractor friend made some kind of move. Which was why I had the gun. And the knife strapped to my leg. It was us I was worried about.
    The contractor ignored Julian and looked to Ava for confirmation. The girl suddenly beamed a smile straight at me, her wide blue eyes radiating such pure happiness that it startled me—and stilled my twitchy grip on the gun.
    “It’s alright.” Ava briefly touched the contractor’s black-sleeved arm. “Sasha thinks I’m safe, and that’s good enough for me.”
    My mouth dropped open, and Julian flashed a look to me.
    “How do you know my name?” My hand tightened again. Was she reading my thoughts? How was that possible, when I hadn’t felt any kind of mind surge? I would have sensed her in my mind if she had linked in.
    Ava glided in front of the contractor and stood uncomfortably close to me. She peered up into my eyes, her slim black jacket shielding her against the chilled wind still gusting in from outside. She was nearly a foot shorter than me, but my body recoiled from her intense gaze.
    “I know all about you, Sasha. I’ve been watching you.” She frowned at Julian, then looked back to me. “Can I trust Julian? Is he a good person? Can he keep me safe?”
    “I… um…” My voice ran away—having to character witness for Julian, I suddenly didn’t know what to say. Was Julian a good person? I hoped so, because I trusted him with my life these days.
    She saved me from answering by nodding. “I had heard about Julian before, but I couldn’t exactly get into his head to find out for myself. Although it wasn’t as bad as when you tried.” The corners of her mouth turned down, then her gaze roamed the factory. “The person hiding in the shadows is also someone I can’t read. That’s why I had to rely on you, Sasha.”
    For no reason at all, the soft smile she wafted up to me cut loose the cords that held my shoulders tense, strung tight across my back.
    “I’m sorry for peeking in on your thoughts,” she said. “I don’t usually spy, if I can help it.” But her smile held no regret, like she was apologizing for breathing, something she couldn’t help and wouldn’t stop if she could. “But your thoughts told me so much… I figured, if only I could find a way here, to you, then maybe I might be safe again.”
    Her words snapped tension back into my shoulders and drove a panicky feeling through my chest like a hot knife. What had she read in my mind? What did she know? I took a step back, and a frown marred the sunshine on her face, like a cloud passing over the