Ionic Attraction Read online

  “Exactly,” Jane said. “So why do you look so skeptical?”

  “Because the Piper I met is nothing like that.” Zach shrugged.

  Jane nodded. “Unless…”

  “Unless?” Zach definitely did not see where she was headed this time.

  “Unless what I said about her being an excellent liar is true. In which case…”

  Okay. He saw. “She would act totally different while she was recruiting. One question.”

  Jane frowned. “Yes?”

  “What does that have to do with attending as a couple?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I…umm…” Zach rubbed his chin. Something wasn’t right. “Piper’s not shoplifting me from the Mastermind Complex, is she?”

  Jane squirmed in her seat. She crossed her arms then uncrossed them. She glanced at Zach then quickly frowned at the ceiling. “When she sees you and me together, obviously in love and happy, her natural inclination will be to take you away from me. When she learns of your expertise in geomagnetic attractive forces, that will seal the deal for her. She’ll feel compelled to recruit you.”

  “Obviously in love and happy?” Zach’s brain did a backflip. The dingy room suddenly seemed a bit brighter.

  “I didn’t come up with the plan. I’m just telling you about it.”

  “So you don’t think it’ll work.”

  Jane arched a brow. “Oh, I know it will work. I’m just saying I didn’t come up with it.”

  “You don’t like the plan.”

  “I didn’t say that, either.”

  “But you don’t.”

  “Look at them,” Mike said. “Fighting like an old married couple already.”

  Zach elbowed his brother then turned back to Jane. “So is this supposed to be our first date? Are we all nervous to be alone at a major science convention together? ’Cause I do awkward really well.”

  Jane shook her head. “We’ve been together for nearly a year. I visited you while you were in juvie. We fell in love. The fact that Piper really did visit you in juvie turns out to be a plus.”

  “How? Because she didn’t think of it first?”

  “Exactly. Seeing you in a relationship will be a shock to her. She’ll want you.”

  “Let me be clear,” Parker said. “You and Jane have to be a very convincing couple. Problem is you’re not. Piper won’t even look at you if she doesn’t believe that you and Jane have something rare and special. Work on it.”

  “Rare and special. I can do rare and special.” Zach had been in a total of one play in school, and he’d sucked. He couldn’t act his way out of a wide-open door, but he could focus his mind like nobody’s business. So he closed his eyes and concentrated. Instantly, he was back in the simulator with holo-Jane. She was on top, smiling down at him, and he imagined their past year together. He opened his eyes, grinned at the real Jane, and put his hands behind his head. “We’re Star Wars fans. We’ve seen every movie together and read every book. Twice.”

  Jane rolled her eyes. “What?”

  His concentration suddenly crashed and burned. “Well, we have to have our story straight. What do we like? What do we talk about? What sort of juicy things will lure Piper into our trap?”

  “I’ve never seen Star Wars,” Jane said.

  He had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping. “Are you even human?”

  “I see where you’re going.” Jane thought for a moment. “How about this? We love to watch classic romance movies.”

  “Okay,” Zach said. “Okay, good. Fortunately, I’m an expert in classic romance movies. The Princess Bride. Tell me you’ve never seen The Princess Bride.”

  “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Jane smiled. “Best love story ever.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Zach gritted his teeth. “Scarlett Johansson, right? She’s an assassin who falls for the dude she’s supposed to off. Am I right? Am I right?”

  Jane buried her face in her hands. “Wonderful. I’m dating someone who understands only mindless action movies.”

  “Not true. I understand all sorts of mindless things.”

  “Did you even know that Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a love story?”

  Zach drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “Audrey Hepburn. Holly Golightly. Moon River.”

  Jane popped her head out of her hands.

  “See, he’s not just a pretty face,” Nolan said. “But I can tell you he never saw the movie. He’s just good at trivia.”

  “I did too see it!”

  “When?” Mike wasn’t buying it.

  “Juvie. Did you think they’d show Chain Saw Massacre?”

  “We’re doomed,” Jane said.

  Zach placed his hand on hers. “Miss Lew, you have an impressive comprehension of unlikely connections, but your inability to connect with the male of the species will kill this mission. You have to convince Piper that you’re in love with me.”

  “And you, Mr. Keen, are a genius with the forces of geomagnetic attraction, but your inordinate talent for being totally repelling won’t even attract a harpy like Piper Dane.” Then her expression completely changed. Her gorgeous eyes sparkled. Her voice became soft and she wrapped his hand in both of hers. “But don’t worry. I am in love with you.”

  Zach forgot how to breathe for a second. “Wow. That was really, really good.”

  Jane blushed. “Hopefully Piper thinks so. Let’s get to class.”

  “Right. Piper. Class,” Zach said, following her out of the room.

  Jane was acting, and he needed to remember that. Stay focused. It was all about the mission.

  Chapter Twelve

  Jane

  The Geomagnetic Convention Center reminded Jane of a space-age beehive, with its yellow obsidian pillars and honeycombed porticos. There were nearly as many robots as people. Some directed traffic, while others guided people to the moving sidewalks that led through the Convention Center entrances. Multicolored laser beams fired toward the clouds from the rooftop of the hexagonal building, then curved downward, pulled back by the forces of geomagnetism, crisscrossing the night sky like hundreds of giant arcing glow sticks. The parking lot was packed with hovercars bumper-to-bumper. Jane had no idea there were so many scientists in the world. She was glad her father had arranged for special transportation from the Complex.

  She entered the crowded center arm in arm with Zachary as planned. Jane wore a simple but practical black sheath dress. Zachary wore a prom-worthy London Mandarin suit, and she had to admit, he cleaned up nicely. He tilted his head toward her until their foreheads nearly touched. She was surprisingly comfortable with it, considering she had not been able to get cozy with anyone since Benson. From the grin on Zachary’s face, he was enjoying their little play-acting as well.

  “This is the first time we’ve been this close since you landed on top of me,” Zachary said. “For which I am eternally grateful. I repeat, can I get a do-over?”

  Jane’s face flushed. “Pay attention to the mission.”

  “I am. Very closely. I have to convince Piper that we’re in love, remember?”

  “Is your com-link working?”

  “I don’t know.” Zachary tapped on his ear. “Hello. Hello. Anybody out there?”

  Anna’s voice came across Jane’s com-link. “Yes, but it would be better if you didn’t make it so obvious. Just act like you’re talking to Jane.”

  “Sorry.” Zachary’s face glowed bright red.

  “Com-links are functional,” Jane said.

  “Copy that,” Anna came back. “You two make a cute couple, by the way.”

  “You can see us?” Zachary looked around like he was searching for cameras.

  “We can see and hear everything,” Anna said. “Your com-links function as body cams and two-way radios. On top of that, we’re tied into every hi-res security cam in e
xistence, including the ones at the convention center. If a flea combs its hair, I’ll be able to see it. Our tech is the best of the best.”

  “Fleas don’t have hair.” Zachary scratched his head. “Is that code for something?”

  “Ignore her,” Jane said. “Back to the plan. We have to act like we came here for the science.”

  “Maybe we should visit the exhibits.” Zachary pointed. “The Geoelectric Hazard Map is right over there.”

  “Good place to start,” Jane said as she followed him to the brightly lit display. “Wow, it’s pretty. It looks like little stars scattered across a dark map of the United States.”

  “That’s exactly what it is,” Zachary said. “A map of the distribution of electrical power for the whole country. Each of those stars represents a portion of the power grid. Changes in outer space conditions disturb the geomagnetic field. You can watch it happen right on the grid.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Space storms induce geoelectric fields that can drive spikes through the grid. Massive, uncontrolled power surges. Transmission lines fry. Transformers blow. A space storm can potentially shut down the whole country. That’s why we track them.”

  “Okay, save the tech talk,” Anna said. “We’ve located Piper Dane. She is signed up for the International Real-time Magnetic Observatory Network consortium and is headed for it as we speak.”

  “Copy that,” Jane said.

  “Interesting,” Zachary said. “That’s the group that built a latitude-dependent statistical model of geomagnetic activity. They call themselves InterMagNet. They’re like the top authority on space storms in the world. They used magnetotelluric survey data to measure the relationship between induced geoelectric fields and the inducing geomagnetic field at different locations across the country.”

  “Right. What you said.” Jane gave him a side glance. This was definitely his field.

  “Although I can’t for the life of me guess why Piper is attending. So, what’s your favorite food?”

  “What does that have to do with Piper?”

  Zachary leaned in close. “Doing the getting-to-know-you thing. We’ve been dating for a year, right? I ought to know what the girl I love likes to eat.”

  Jane smiled at the words, but then realized that Zachary was playing his role. “I like cheeseburgers. Could live on them. You?”

  “Moo goo gai pan. Chicken chow mein. Also cheeseburgers. With bacon.”

  “My family never got into traditional Chinese food.” She shrugged.

  “Maybe we could have home cooking at my house for one of our ‘dates.’” Zachary threw air quotes around the word.

  Jane looked into his eyes. “I’d like that.”

  “That was just acting, right?” Zachary’s face flushed.

  “Look out!” Anna’s voice was urgent. “Halo Agent on the horizon. Benson Graham coming your way. Do not make contact. Repeat. Do not make contact. He’s wired.”

  “What’s that mean?” Zachary slowly turned to look over his shoulder.

  “Benson is wearing a camera,” Jane whispered. “HAVOC must have him recording the convention. I can’t get within fifty feet of him or I’ll violate the restraining order, and he’ll have video proof.”

  “Don’t worry.” Zachary put his arm around her and squeezed. “I see him.”

  Jane spotted Benson waltzing toward her with a swagger that said, ‘Yeah, what are you going to do about it?’ She got a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  “I want to go,” Jane whispered. “Please.”

  “You’re shaking.” Zachary pulled her close. “Come on. I’ll get you away from him.”

  Jane looked into Zachary’s eyes. “Thank you.”

  “Jane, Jane, Jane,” Benson yelled through the crowd. “I thought that was you. It’s been so long!”

  “Not long enough,” Jane said through a forced smile. Her throat began to constrict, but she refused to give Benson the satisfaction of knowing.

  “Wow,” he said as he drew near. “I almost didn’t recognize you. What happened to your hair? Get too hot? Well the rest of you looks the same. Short. Bland. Lost.”

  Zachary’s arm tightened around Jane, and she leaned in to him. It didn’t help. Memories of being drugged and strapped to Benson’s device flitted through her mind like a movie on fast-forward. Her heart rapped like a machine gun. She thought it would burst through her chest.

  “Who’s your friend?” Zachary asked. “And I use that term in the same context as ‘friendly fire.’”

  “Benson Graham.” Benson grinned and shot a hand out. “And you are?”

  “With her.” Zachary bent down and kissed Jane’s cheek. “So back off.”

  Jane’s breath caught. Warmth radiated through her, and she turned to Zachary. He…kissed her! But before the softness of his lips could register, the terror of Benson returned full force.

  “Really? I thought she gave up dating.” Benson pursed his lips. “Too stressful.”

  His smug grin was the same one that hovered over her when she was struggling as he attached the electrodes. Lights began to flicker behind Jane’s eyes. Her head thundered.

  “Dating idiots will do that. She dates only geniuses now.” Zachary took a quick step toward Benson. “Hey, how’d you get into the convention? You with the middle school science club?”

  Jane couldn’t find her voice. Please stop. Get me out of here.

  Benson’s lip curled into an arrogant snarl. “Actually, I’m in Quantum City U’s Young PhD program. Personal friend of Professor Mamont.”

  “Well, la di da. I thought they had standards.”

  “Zachary!” she finally got out. Jane pulled away and tried to catch her breath.

  “I’m as shocked as you are—” Zachary looked right at Jane and stopped in midsentence. He must have noticed the terror in her eyes, because he put his arm back around her and held her close. “Let’s get out of here before I do something he regrets.”

  “Zachary?” Benson became even more smug. “Zachary Keen. Teen genius. I should have recognized you.”

  “My reputation precedes me.”

  “No, your mug shot does.”

  Zachary’s grip on Jane loosened just a bit, and he said quietly, “Excuse me while I kill him.”

  Benson backed up. “The jailbird makes idle threats.”

  “The jailbird learned how to make a shiv. Wanna see how it works?” He reached for his back pocket.

  Benson went pale. “Jane, I’d like to say it was nice to be less than fifty feet apart, but that would be a lie. You’ll hear from my attorney.” He spun away and crashed right through the Geoelectric Hazard Map exhibit.

  Zachary took Jane’s hand and rushed her away from the gathering crowd. “I’m so sorry, Jane. Are you okay?”

  “I would have been,” Jane muttered, fighting tears. “If you had just gotten me out of there fast instead of acting like a total Neanderthal.”

  “I wish I were a Neanderthal. I would have clubbed him before we left.”

  “Jane, are you okay?” Anna’s worried voice came across the com link.

  “I’m good.” Jane’s heart had slowed down to nearly normal now that they were away from Benson. She moved close to Zachary. She’d never had a boy stick up for her like that before.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asked.

  “A shiv, Zachary?” She gave him a quick glance then shook her head. “You really are a caveman.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Zachary puffed out his chest. “Wait, did you mean it as a compliment?”

  “It works for you.” She took a deep breath, shook off the last remnants of seeing Benson again, and composed herself.

  “Noted. On to the InterMagNet Consortium.”

  “That way,” Jane said, pointing to the sign that said Workshop on
Magnetic Observatory Instruments. “You speak the language, right?”

  Zachary inhaled sharply and put a finger to his temple. “The InterMagNet Consortium is a global network of digital magnetic observatories, adopting modern standards for observation equipment to facilitate the creation of geomagnetic products in real time.” He exhaled and grinned at Jane. “How did I do?”

  “All my private tutors combined at the Mastermind Complex didn’t help me to understand what you just said. I’m officially impressed.”

  “Let’s hope Piper Dane is, too,” Zachary said. “By the way, does our plan include getting Piper’s attention? ’Cause she’s not going to recruit me just because I’m with a beautiful girl.”

  Beautiful? Jane’s heart skipped a beat. “You need to sound legit to the senior scientists. If you catch their attention, you’ll catch hers.”

  “Got it.” He held out his hand. “Follow moi.”

  Jane took Zachary’s hand. A tiny chill went through her. She squeezed slightly, wondering if he’d notice. His side glance and sudden red face told her he did. As they made their way through the crowd, her fear of Benson diminished. Somehow, Zachary made her feel safe.

  The Consortium was in a massive conference room filled with several hundred people. The speaker stood on a raised platform. Jane recognized her as Dr. Linda Reddington, astronomy professor at Quantum City U. She had already begun her presentation. Jane looked around, but Piper was nowhere to be seen. She dragged Zachary right up in front of the stage.

  Gorgeous video footage of the northern lights flashed on the screen, silhouetting Dr. Reddington as she spoke. “Space storms cause a variety of interesting phenomena, the most well-known of which is the aurora borealis. The mystery of their cause has historically been the subject of wonder. Some civilizations attributed auroral light to the gods, when in fact, they are the result of the dynamic interaction of solar winds and asteroids with the Earth’s magnetosphere.”

  Zachary raised his hand. “Is it possible to use the magnetosphere to alter the path of an asteroid?”

  Dr. Reddington looked down and smiled. “Excellent question. With the right combination of solar wind energy and plasma entering the magnetosphere, you could theoretically create a gravitational pull significantly more powerful than the Earth’s magnetic field. So to answer your question, yes. But the energy required would be enormous. And by enormous, I mean Large Hadron Collider.”