Sneak (Swipe Series)

continued. “The American Union is merging, as we speak, with the European Union. They aren’t waiting for the new year. It’s happening now.”
    “So then . . .”
    “As a sign of good faith, Lamson is redoubling efforts to reach a 100 percent Marked populace. To show our solidarity, you understand, across the A.U., in support of Chancellor Cylis.”
    “All right . . .”
    “Well, Erin, your good friend Logan Langly has given us just the excuse DOME needed in the New Chicago area to . . . revise our stance against the Markless. No more turning a blind eye. They’re criminals, Erin. And they’re traitors. They’ve refused allegiance to Lamson and Cylis, and they are trying to convince others to turn against the government as well.”
    “I know that, Dad. We all know it.”
    Johnson nodded. “And yet, just six months ago, if we went around locking up Markless, what would we get? Unrest. We’d get whining about rights and free speech and respect for dissent and all of that, even among the Marked communities. You know—the idealists.”
    “The idealists,” Mr. Arbitor growled.
    “But the bigger the threat the Markless pose, the easier it is, from a public relations standpoint, to deal with them properly.”
    Mr. Arbitor leaned forward. “The Dust is that threat. And now that we can tie them to Logan’s premeditated assault on a Pledge Center nurse—which was nothing short of a direct and aggressive attack against DOME’s New Chicago headquarters— we have all the proof we need that Unmarked communities are a hostile and dangerous public enemy. Logan’s escape was an opportunity for Lamson—and he’s taking it.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Erin said. “You’re manipulating Logan’s intentions to prove your point.”
    “Oh, are we?” Mr. Arbitor sneered at his daughter now.
    “We’ve been raiding Markless gangs for weeks,” Johnson said. “Slog Row was just the beginning. We’ve swept all the surrounding neighborhoods. We’ve swept downtown New Chicago. We’ve clamped down on every bit of known activity.”
    “Good,” Erin said sincerely. “It’s about time, if you ask me.”
    “But there’s more.” Mr. Arbitor smiled. “Because in every raid since the escape, we have made one thing perfectly clear: DOME’s priority is Logan. And any leads resulting in his capture will be rewarded accordingly.”
    “We know there are more Markless out there in the shadows and the alleys and the woods. But now all of them are the survivors of one raid or another. All of them have heard the terms of our deal.”
    Mr. Arbitor nodded. “And today, one of them has come forward.”
    “The tip sounds credible.”
    “Logan has surfaced.”
    “Our agents are standing by.”
    “You’re not gonna hurt him,” Erin said. “Once you have him. You’re not gonna hurt him, are you?”
    “No,” Johnson said. “We would never hurt him.”
    “He’s not one of them,” Erin insisted. “He’s not Dust. He’s Unmarked at the moment, I know, but that’s . . . temporary. He’s isn’t Markless, Dad. Peck tricked him. I told you that—Peck tricked him into thinking DOME has Logan’s sister. It’s ridiculous, I know. It was just a trap, and Logan fell for it. But you can’t blame him for—”
    “We’re not, Erin. We’re trying to help. That’s all.”
    Erin sighed, and another chunk of slush fell to the floor. “Okay. And what about finding the Dust?”
    “Can’t pit Markless against the Dust,” Johnson said. “Not in the same way. All anyone knows about Logan is that he’s the miser who caused the raids. But the Dust . . . Dust is revered in this city. Peck’s a symbol to those Unmarked beggars. They’d never turn him in.”
    “And anyway, he’s too smart. Peck’s suspected for years that Markless are too desperate, as a group, to be trusted. He’s learned how to stay away from enemies and friends alike.”
    “Then what’s the plan?” Erin asked. “Assuming your source is right, when do we move in on Logan? How do I know you’re not just gonna kill him? And how does any of this fit with finding Peck and the Dust?” She looked at the two men nervously, but Mr. Arbitor was grinning now.
    “Well, sweetie . . . that’s where you come in.”
    5
    Hailey arrived home just before sunset to the sounds of her mother in the bathroom upstairs, coughing and wheezing out the nanodust piled up in her lungs.
    Growing up, Hailey’s mom was always home while Mr. Phoenix worked long