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Tolan.”
    Now I’m the one who’s grinding my teeth. “That’s great, Martin. That’s just wonderful. Every time you take a stand, I’m the one who ends up paying for it. I worked my ass off at the magnet academy so that I would be a shoe-in for every award. Then everything fell apart and you brought us out here. But did you hear me complain about it even once? No, I didn’t. I just accepted the fact that I would have to work a few years and save up the money to pay for it myself. And that’s fine, Martin. I’m willing to do that. But I am not willing to do this. I’m not leaving again.” If Martin has any kind of rebuttal, I don’t give him the chance to make it. I’m already marching out the room.
    â€œThirty days, Jack.” He calls after me. “I can cover us for thirty days.”
    â€œA lot can happen in thirty days,” I reply.
    Upstairs, I slam my bedroom door shut. I didn’t tell Martin about Arcadian because I know he’ll never let me do it. However, that’s not really his call anymore, is it? If Martin can make rash decisions that affect our future then surely I can do the same. Martin made his decision, now it’s time for me to make mine. Martin may be all out of options, but I’m not. I can do it. I can run us out of this mess.
    I dig my thin screen out of my backpack and drop it onto the desk. Place it in hologram mode and call Dex. “Hey, Jack,” he answers. “What’s going on?”
    I don’t say anything, and he sees it almost immediately.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œDex, I need you to tell me everything I need to know about running the sneakernet.”
    Dexter stares at me with surprise. “Hermes?”
    I shake my head and hold up the card for him to see. “Arcadian.”
    Dexter’s surprise turns to disbelief. “How the hell…”
    â€œThey tapped me in the tunnel this afternoon. And then just now I found out about this thing between Martin at the syndicate … I have no choice, Dex. I’m going for it.”
    Dexter sighs. I know he’s not jealous of me, but I also know what it’s like to watch someone else get the thing you want more than anything, even if that someone is your best friend. Dexter always thought he’d be the one running for Arcadian one day. We all thought that.
    â€œAre you absolutely sure you want to do this?” he asks.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI mean it, Jack. Tracing the sneakernet is nothing to play at. It’s all or nothing. You either get into it with everything you’ve got, or you don’t get into it at all. That goes double for Arcadian. All of their transports are high value.”
    I look down at the card. When security is the only option . Then back to Dex. “I know that,” I say. “I know that, and I’m in.”

When Security is the Only Option

5
    The beige sedan is so nondescript that I don’t even notice it until it pulls up alongside me. Bigsby is behind the wheel. I guess it’s implied that he’s there to pick me up. The front door is locked. I release the handle and wait for him to unlock it, but he flicks his thumb at the back seat instead. I get in.
    The beginning of the ride is strained. Bigsby doesn’t respond to the simplest of platitudes. Whether it’s by orders or by choice, his lips are sealed. Even when I ask him about the work. “So how long have you been running for Arcadian?”
    No answer.
    â€œYou don’t have to go into details, I just want to know what to expect.”
    Hands two and ten on the wheel, eyes on the road.
    â€œCome on, Bigs. Don’t be like that. We’re on the same team here.”
    Bigs eyes me in the rearview mirror, his way of saying he doesn’t like that one bit. That’s when I let it go. I don’t know what his problem is, but it’s of no concern to me. We ride in silence for a few minutes