Muted Trilogy: Mute Part 20

"If there was nothing malicious about this block, yeah. It's worth a shot anyway, if anything else happens," he sent. He looked over at her again, letting a little hesitation seep through their connection. "My computer saved everything until the stream cut out. It looks like I've still got the file from the kidnapping, just no more live feed."

"Can we see it, then?"

"Are you okay to watch it? You seemed pretty shaken up, understandably," he sent.

"I'm fine," she sent, adding confidence to her mental tone. "Let's see if watching it gives us anything new."

He nodded, navigated to a file, and clicked twice.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:.

Same The video showed nothing interesting for a minute or two as Jack forwarded it to the right location. He paused the video as the stranger's dark green Ford parked in the lot, and he looked over at Jemma.

Jemma's heart rate had returned to normal, her breathing had slowed, and she felt more in control of herself than she had just minutes before. She nodded at Jack's unformed question.

"I'm fine. Let's watch," she sent. Jack turned his attention back to the laptop and pressed play.

The vehicle was parked facing away from the camera, giving them a clear shot of the license plate. Jack opened a separate program and quickly jotted down the six-character combination of numbers and letters. The video continued, and the woman stepped out of the car. She looked around the parking lot before she closed the car door behind her and strode toward the library and out of view of the camera.

Jemma reminded herself to breathe as they waited for the woman to reappear, mentally reviewing the exchange that had happened inside the building. Finally, the woman came back into view, sprinting through the parking lot. Her attention turned in the direction of the camera at unseen noise or movement, her eyes wide, and then the video distorted.

And then the video went blank.

Jack frowned, rewinding and playing it through again, with the same result. He ran a hand through his hair.

"They must have blocked me from the video right at that time so n.o.body could see them," he sent. "There's no way that sort of timing is just coincidence."

"Does that mean they're working for the city? I mean, if you're right, if they had access to the camera and were able to upgrade the city's security at the exact right moment, it would make sense, right?"

"Maybe." Jack sighed visibly. "I mean, it makes sense, but it's not definite. Anyone who'd hacked far enough into the system could shut down the cameras, apply a security patch. Easier with a hard line into the city's network, but not impossible without, not if the right person designed it. Way beyond what I could do, though."

"So we don't know anything new," sent Jemma, frustration seeping into her mental tone, "except that apparently these people can kidnap someone in broad daylight and get away with it."

"We also know that they were watching both of us, not just you," added Jack, "and that there are other people we can Talk to without actually knowing them."

"We don't even know who she was!" Jemma stood and paced in front of the couch. "She risked getting caught to come warn us. Maybe they would've taken her anyway, but maybe she could've stayed hidden. Instead she came to help us, and she got taken, and she asked for our help but we can't do anything, and I'm tired of feeling out of control of just everything." She stopped, taking a breath, then turning toward Jack, who was watching her from the couch. "Or can we do something? You got her license plate, right? If we can find out who she was, maybe we can find the guy she wanted us to talk to."

Jack nodded. "I've got her plate, a.s.suming it's her car. What did you say the name was, the one she used before she stopped Talking?"

"Ken." Jemma watched Jack's fingers fly across his keyboard. "Will you be able to figure out who the car belonged to if you can't get back into the city's system?"

"Hope so. Anything else the city records privately will be a bit more tricky. License plates, though, those are shared outside the system. Police need access, and they use third-party software for things like license-tracking programs. With that many people involved, it just can't be protected quite as well, and I might be able to find a way to get to it." He looked up at Jemma. "This is going to take a while, if I do manage it. Hacking the DMV isn't exactly something I do regularly."

Jemma nodded. "Okay. Did you want to do it here or head home, or is there somewhere else that's better?"

"Here's fine." His mouth pulled up to one side. "I just thought you might not want to stand there waiting the whole time."

Jemma expelled a breath through her nose. "That makes sense. I need to update my mom, anyway, in case the library's closing makes the news."

Jack sent a mental equivalent of a wince along with a wave of rea.s.surance. "I might have the easier job here, then."

Jemma felt herself smile before she turned away and walked over to her computer. She turned it on and sat down, feeling her connection with Jack dampen as he focused on what he was doing. She rubbed the tight muscles at the back of her neck, then reached for the mouse once the computer had started up. After opening Facebook, she clicked on her mother's name in the messenger. School had been out for just a few minutes, but her name was already displaying the bright green dot that indicated she was online.

How was your day? typed Jemma.

It was great! her mother wrote back immediately. Are you on break at work?

Not really, typed Jemma.

What do you mean? asked Carolyn.

We had to close early because something happened. I'm fine! But a woman got kidnapped in the parking lot, and the police wanted the library shut down for the day so they could investigate.

Carolyn's response was immediate: Are you okay???

What happened? Did you know her??

Are you at home??

Jemma sent a message before her mom could send more.

I'm fine, Mom. I'm okay. She pressed Enter and continued typing. I didn't know her, had never seen her before today. The police came right away, and I went home after locking up.

Are you there alone? typed Carolyn. I'm coming over. I can be there in twenty minutes.

Wait, wrote Jemma before her mother could start driving and stop responding.

? she received in response.

I'm fine, really. I got a little shaken up, but I'm fine. Jack's with me, so I'm not alone, she typed. I'm not sure whether I could handle more company right now.

Then you're not fine! There was a pause before Carolyn started typing again, and Jemma could picture her mother's exasperated sigh. You'd rather be alone with Jack?

For today, yeah. Sorry.

No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't push. I'm glad he's there with you, typed Carolyn.

Thanks, Mom.

I know it isn't your normal day, but can you come to dinner tomorrow?

Jemma looked up at the ceiling, then rolled her head back down until she was looking back at her computer screen.

I'll try, she typed.

Bring Jack, wrote Carolyn.

Jemma glanced over at Jack, who was intently focused on his laptop.

I'll ask, she answered. Gotta go, Mom. Love ya.

I love you, too. You be CAREFUL, you hear me? I was already worried when you were hearing noises at work, don't need to add any more to the mix. And give Jack a hug for me.

Sure.

Jemma exited out of Facebook and stared at her desktop background for a long moment before opening her browser again and navigating to local news. Nothing had been posted about the library. She scanned the list of recent articles, opening a few in new tabs.

New Addition to Outdoor Recreation Options Construction has been completed on a new park on Jackson Street. The park, created for families with children between the ages of five and eleven, was redesigned when it was already partially built. Instead of equipment designed to encourage vocal communication, the playground reflects the world we currently live in. The drums and chimes survived the changes, but the microphone toy was removed from the music section. The metal tube that allowed one child to speak across the playground to a child at the other end has been replaced by a relatively basic, rugged keyboard and waterproof screen, set to send and receive with an identical device across the playground. In addition to the standard keys, children can also press b.u.t.tons showing basic pictures (a tree, a house, etc.). This lets even children too young to read and write to start adjusting to modern communication methods. The park opens this weekend.

-Katie Brink, Staff Writer Where Were You When...

We're excited to announce a new, reader-submitted series of stories. As the two-month mark approaches, we are reflecting on where we were and what we were doing during The Event. We'd like your help! Please submit your stories at the link below, or mail them to our offices. Keep stories appropriate for general audiences.

Jemma heard soft footsteps on the carpet, and she registered that her connection with Jack had been firmly reestablished. She looked behind her to see him approaching, and he scanned the article over her shoulder.

"Can you imagine some of the submissions they'll get, even after giving that warning about general audiences?"

Jemma shook her head. "That's probably why they're reviewing them instead of just letting people post."

Jack sent a wave of agreement. "Did you talk to your mom?"

"I did." Jemma spun her chair around so she could face Jack, her knees brus.h.i.+ng against his legs. "She wants us to come over for dinner tomorrow."

"I need to talk to Dad first. Don't want him feeling neglected."

"Of course. I hadn't even decided whether I want to go yet." She paused, looking up at Jack, whose hands were shoved into his pockets, before turning the conversation back to more pressing matters.. "Did you find her name?"

"Not yet. I'm close, but stuff was starting to blur together. I started a program running that should help. Just taking a few minutes." He grinned, sending a wave of something like sheepishness. "I don't usually get wiped quite so easily, don't always need breaks this soon."

"We haven't really had a relaxing few days." Jemma hesitated before she stood, Jack taking a step backward to give her room. "I agreed to give you a hug from my mom."

Jemma felt surprise, then amus.e.m.e.nt as Jack spread his arms wide, keeping his feet where they were. "I'm game if you are," he sent.

Jemma stepped forward, slipping her arms under his and around his torso before she could change her mind. He wrapped his arms around her, firmly but without forcing her closer to him, and as she relaxed, she felt him relax, too. Not much taller than her, Jack was able to lean his head down and rest his chin on her shoulder. His breath was slow and steady, and Jemma leaned against him and closed her eyes.

"Thanks, Jemma's mom," he sent, his mental tone low and relaxed, laced with mild amus.e.m.e.nt and contentment.

When his computer chirped, they pulled apart, Jemma blinking. She felt a little disoriented and a bit sleepy.

"I'm going to make some coffee," she sent while Jack moved back to the couch and repositioned the laptop. "Want anything?"

"Could I get some tea? This shouldn't take much longer now."

"Sure." She walked to the kitchen and turned on the Keurig her parents had gotten her as a housewarming present, grabbing a couple of cups for the machine and mugs for the warm drinks. She'd just finished mixing creamer into hers when Jack's voice echoed through her.

"I found her," he sent.

Abandoning the drinks on the counter, Jemma made her way back to the couch, sitting down beside Jack so she could see the screen.

"The car's registered to Marcia Blake," he sent, showing her a readout with the name and address. "I made sure it was her, too, that she wasn't just driving someone else's car."

"Did you look at driver's license records for a photo?" guessed Jemma.

Jack grinned, eyes sparkling. "Nah. I searched for her on Facebook." His amus.e.m.e.nt dimmed as he brought up her page, the kidnapped woman beaming at them from her profile picture. "Most of her profile is private. She works at Best Buy, looks like, so we might be able to find something out there, or we can go by her house. Doesn't say whether she's married or in a relations.h.i.+p, so I don't know whether the house would be empty. It isn't far from here."

"Going to her house would probably be a pretty big tip-off if anyone's watching, though. It'd be obvious we figured out who she was. Probably not something we'd have done for a random stranger." Jemma studied Marcia's photo. The woman wore a red dress and had her hands on her hips. Her smile was wide and genuine, her eyes bright. Whoever had taken the photo had captured a lot of personality, and Marcia looked capable of taking on whatever the world threw at her.

Instead, she'd been tossed into the back of a sedan.

"We have to try to find Ken," sent Jack. Jemma looked at him, briefly startled to hear the words she'd been about to say.

She nodded. "Let's try where she works first. Maybe someone can tell us who Ken is. We can stop somewhere for an early dinner, maybe make it look like we're just out on a date."

"Good plan," answered Jack, still scrolling through the Facebook profile in search of answers.

"I'm going to change out of my work clothes, and then we can go. Mind if I drive?"

"That's fine," said Jack, watching her stand. "I'll let Dad know I'll be a few minutes late. As long as we eat early, he shouldn't miss me. Especially if I bring him back a milkshake."

Jemma nodded. "We'll do that."

She changed clothes quickly, pausing only to look at her forgotten name tag, which was sitting on the dresser. How had Marcia known her name? How had she known where to find her? Maybe they'd be able to find some answers without making anything worse.

Jemma cleaned up their untouched drinks and then grabbed her keys. Jack stood near the door, laptop in the case that was slung over his shoulder.

"Let's go find some answers," he said. She nodded and led the way to her car.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:.

Not Really They stopped at the mall, walking from there to the Best Buy in the same parking lot, their hands joined loosely between them. Jemma considered pulling away, but the warmth of Jack's hand felt good against the typical coolness of her own, and she knew it helped appearances. A gentle breeze blew, and the shoppers surrounding them seemed jovial, laughing silently and mouthing words, a backdrop at odds with the coiled tension Jemma felt while thinking about what information they had and what information they still needed to get.

Jack and Jemma let their hands drop as they walked through the door rather than trying to fit through the entryway side-by-side. He moved to walk just behind her, and Jemma felt his hand on her shoulder briefly as they entered the building. Inside, the people who served as both greeters and receipt-checkers now had tablets in front of them, very similar to what Jemma had set up at her library, with pre-typed words: How may I help you today? A smile on his face, Jack walked up to the closest greeter, Jemma stepping aside to let him work his magic.

We're looking for Marcia. Is she in?

Just a sec, the skinny blonde typed before retrieving a phone. She typed using her right hand, then pressed a b.u.t.ton on the discreet headset in her ear, pausing to listen for a response. After a minute she frowned, then shook her head and typed on the tablet again.