Chaos Calling by E. M. Williams

Author:E. M. Williams [Williams, E. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Circle Star Publishing

Chapter 18

Anna — Discovery

Toronto, ON: Wednesday, August 20

Anna gets onto the eastbound subway car at Keele Station. She slept terribly. Her injured leg is killing her, but she forces determination into her step. This morning, I’m going to find Walter Delal a new office, she tells herself as she eases her way onto a seat. Yesterday, between making lunch for the kids and talking to Dave and Malcolm, she’d managed to rebook all three office tours. He’s going to love one of those spaces. I’m going to close my first deal in a year.

The affirmation feels hollow in the alarmingly empty subway car. Normally, by the time rush-hour trains reach her stop, they’re jam-packed with commuters, parents schlepping kids to day camp, and teens working summer jobs. Six people? That’s it?

There’s a Metro newspaper folded on the seat beside her. Anna picks it up, skimming headlines. The centre spread is an aerial collage of the 400-series highways around Toronto, absolutely blocked with cars. Everyone with a cottage or vacation home is leaving the city. The streets closest to the SkyDome are still closed.

Crews are continuing to assess the surrounding buildings while identifying the bodies being unearthed in the rubble, she reads. Chief of Police Henry Montcalm refused to speculate on whether the attack was a one-off occurrence or a serious threat.

Anna bites her lower lip. Smart man not to take a public bet like that.

“He’s pretty decent at politics,” Dave agrees, taking the seat beside hers. “Lots of practice.”

Anna blinks. Outside the train’s windows, Ossington Station is disappearing in a blur of crimson and gray tiles. “Where’d you come from? Weren’t we supposed to meet on the platform?”

“Would you believe me if I said you’re an extremely loud thinker?” he asks and laughs when she smacks his arm. “How are you? How’s Malcolm?”

“Fine,” she says and then frowns. “Pretty tense, actually.”

“Mmm,” Dave says, one eyebrow raised. “Based on early data, I’d say getting called up to save the world seems to do that to a person.” He extends an arm, considering its lean muscle. Tall enough to play pro basketball, Dave moves with an easy grace that Anna’s always envied. “Do you think this whole tarkan thing is going to make Malcolm super jacked? Maybe I should become one, too. How does it work? I drop to my knees and pledge my undying—”

Anna shushes him, her eyes flicking around the car. “Don’t talk so loud.”

No one’s listening, Annie, says Dave, his eyes shining with mirth as his voice fills her head like she’s wearing invisible earphones. I’d know. He jerks his chin at the empty seats and says aloud, “People aren’t going downtown unless they have to. If they can, they’ll work from home.”

Anna rubs her neck, thinking of the bills. “I wouldn’t go either if we didn’t need the money.”

Gentleness sweeps over Dave’s face. “If things are tight, I can—”

“No.”

After his wild success with Rune, it seemed to Anna that she and Malcolm were the only friends from Dave’s Toronto circle who hadn’t found excuses to ask him for handouts or donations to their pet causes.

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