Prologue – Part 2 – Eleven Years Ago

Mommy came in and picked Allison up, hushing her. Allison cried into Mommy's shoulder and things spun around to fast for her to understand.  Mommy carried her and before Allison knew what was happening, she was out in the cold night air in her pajamas, and Mommy was buckling her into her booster seat in the car.

"No. I don't want to—" but Mommy moved too fast for Allison to make her understand.  One moment she was buckling her in, the next Allison was alone in the back seat listening to Mommy throwing things in the trunk.

The inside of the car was packed with stuff too, boxes and suitcases.  The box next to Allison's seat was open and on top was the long white coat that Mommy sometimes wore home from work, Allison knew that because a badge with Mommy's face was clipped to the pocket in front, it had a green border and had a lot of words on it Allison couldn't read— though she knew that the big letters P, R, I, was where Mommy worked, and where Daddy worked too.  Daddy had a badge too, a red bordered one that clipped to his black uniform.

That made Allison start thinking.  She didn't understand what her parents were arguing about, but Daddy had said something about losing his job.

The trunk slammed shut behind her and Allsion heard Daddy's voice, "Don't do this, Carol."

What if it was something Allison had done?  Mommy had told her over and over that she was never to talk to anyone about where she lived or who she lived with, not even a policeman.  Allison was never to tell anyone who her Daddy was.  All Allison was ever supposed to give anyone was Mommy's name and phone number.

Mommy had said very gravely that both Mommy and Daddy could lose their jobs if Allison told. Had she said something wrong to someone?  Allison couldn't remember.  Did she say something in kindergarten?

"No, I didn't.  I didn't."

Mommy was by the driver's door, and Daddy had grabbed her arm.

"Let go of me," she said.

"I didn't plan things like this."

"Did they?"

"What?"

"'Did they?'  Did Stone and his cronies at Prometheus encourage you to shack up with me?"

Daddy let Mommy go, looking as if someone had just hit him.  "Is that what you think?"

"It's what they do, isn't it?  A standing bounty for names on their list?"

"Yes but that's—"

"Your name's on the list, John.  You didn't tell me."

"You'd never understand.  You've never liked that part of PRI.  If I told you. . .  Just like you're looking at me now, like

I'm some sort of botched experiment."

"I thought you only cared about company policy—"

"If we got married one of us would have to quit."

"—but what you cared about was the bounty."

"That's not it."

Mommy opened the door and slid into the driver's seat.  She started the engine, but Daddy grabbed the door before she pulled it shut.  "You know that's not it."

Mommy sounded very sad when she said, "I know.  My name's on the list too."

"No, you can't be.  I checked."

"I have more than one name, John.  I'm listed under one of my foster families."

Everything became silent except for the sound of the engine.  Daddy looked as scared as Allison felt, and that made her even more scared.

"You honestly didn't know, did you?"  Mommy said.  She pulled the door shut, leaving Daddy standing in the driveway staring at them as if he didn't see anything at all.  He didn't say anything, didn't move, as the car pulled away.  Allison tried to turn her head to see him as they left, but the booster seat kept her from looking out the back.

"Daddy," she sobbed.

"Shh," Mommy said from the driver's seat.  "It will be okay, honey."

"I'm sorry!"

"Allie?"

"I take it back.  I didn't mean to tell anyone."

"No, this isn't your fault."

"I don't want to leave."

"I know.  I don't want to leave either."

"Then why?"  Allison dragged out the last syllable until she was out of breath.

"I don't have a choice, because of who Daddy is, who I am, who you are.  I want you to be safe, and you can't be safe here."

"It's okay.  I won't tell anyone.  I'll stay in my room."

"Allison, it really isn't you.  Even if I turned back, once Daddy has a chance to think about what I told him, he'd send us away

himself."

"He wouldn't."

"He loves you, and he doesn't want you ending up like the other kids at Prometheus any more than I do."  Mommy tried to sound cheerful, but Allison could hear her heart breaking.  "Maybe when we're settled, we can figure out a way Daddy can come and join us.  He just can't right now."

"Why?"

"Someone has to cover our tracks."