Read Jacked for Free Online Page B

concentration of residents who were part of the Mind. The fires had cleansed wide swaths of the city, which controlled the threat of disease in the aftermath. Three years later an earthquake, bigger than any Ludler could remember before The Crash, had proved the Creator’s wrath, knocking down many of the remaining buildings near the coasts and collapsing the bridges.
    But people weren’t ready to give it up. They had been rebuilding in the past few years and even more were migrating, traveling across the water in boats to bring whole city blocks back to life. That was why Ludler had turned his attention back to Frisco. The evil had been killed here once and it would not grow back under his watch.
    He sat at one end of the cafeteria, finishing his supper. No one else sat next to him, although most of his officers were devouring their own meals just a few feet away. Ludler was so caught up in his thoughts he almost missed Martinez’s approach.
    “Lieutenant, join me.” He gestured toward an empty chair. “Did you get anything to eat?”
    “No, sir.” The young officer shuffled his weight back and forth while keeping his hands behinds his back. “Captain, we received a message.”
    Ludler nodded while he wiped his mouth.
    “Send the messenger to me.”
    Martinez brought out a piece of paper from behind him and placed it on the table.
    “The message came by telephone.”
    Ludler stopped as he reached, his hand hovering above the message, recoiling while his fingers twitched. After a few seconds of hesitation he picked it up and began reading. A few seconds more he blinked and leaned back with his eyes wide.
    “Tell the men we leave at first light for San Jose. Empty the garrison.” He looked back down at the message.
    “Captain, what is it? What’s wrong?”
    Ludler’s face spread wide with a grin.
    “It’s from Father Eli. They may have found a fixer.”
    Martinez sucked in a breath.
    “A fixer? After this long?”
    “Yes. See to the men and make sure my things are packed.” Martinez turned to leave, stopping when Ludler continued. “And, Lieutenant, make sure the purification cuffs are in my saddlebags.”
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    The gray afternoon skies had turned black by the time Ludler dismounted. A soldier led his horse away, the bay’s coat dark with sweat. They had ridden hard to Palo Alto and, if it had been up to Ludler, he would have hopped on a fresh mount and ridden through the night to San Jose. But another message from Father Eli had reached him on the road, this time from a rider, ordering him to stop in the city before continuing after the fixer.
    The doors to the home opened as he bounded up the stairs, the echo of footsteps behind him letting him know Martinez was close. Before he could tell the guards on duty he was expected Father Eli and a guard walked down the winding stairway toward him. He blinked in surprise at not needing to be announced.
    “Brother Ned! You made good time.” Eli’s white hair waved in his hurried approach. “Thank the Creator you made it safely.”
    Ludler bowed.
    “Father Eli, I didn’t dare wait for something this important. Is it true?”
    The preacher hesitated, looking more than his age of a sudden. He took Ludler by the elbow.
    “Let’s talk in the study.”
    They crossed the foyer and went down a short hallway before entering a room overlooking the city, scattered lights giving depth to the view below. Martinez and the guard stayed outside, shutting the door behind the two men.
    “Yes, it’s true,” Eli said as he let go of Ludler’s arm and sat down on the couch. He gestured toward the chair opposite him. “At least as far as we can tell. He is the right age, fourteen or fifteen years-old.”
    Ludler nodded.
    “Who turned him in?”
    “A student at Lynbrook High School. His father owns part of the local electric supplier.”
    Ludler sat back in the chair and tapped his chin with a forefinger.
    “How do we know this isn’t just some