Metaltown

  “It’s a scarf,” he said, and then gave a short laugh. “You think I can’t afford another one. I’m sure I’ll survive somehow.” The color brightened her cheeks. He liked that more than he cared to admit.

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I’m not used to people giving me things.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.”

  “No. Gifts, that’s what I mean. Unless … I could pay you?”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  Her eyes grew wide, and she glanced to her bodyguard, still outside.

  “Take it easy,” he said. “I was joking. You don’t get out much, do you?”

  “I’ve been here twice this week already.”

  “Yeah.” He frowned. “I remember.”

  She straightened, turning more to face him, and when she did, her knee bumped against his. She apologized, then backed into her door to widen the space between them. “That’s why I wanted to speak to you, actually. To talk about what happened.”

  “And here I thought you just wanted to get me in the backseat.” He drummed his fingers on the driver’s compartment, directly in front of them.

  “Are you never serious?”

  He snorted. “Are you really dragging this out?”

  “Dragging what out?”

  “Aren’t you here to fire me?”

  “What? No. No. I’m not here to fire you. I just wanted to talk to you. I wanted to see if that girl had found work, and if not, maybe I could help her find something.”

  “That’d be nice, since she got hurt on the job and all.” He bit the inside of his cheek, not meaning to have been so free with his words.

  Lena’s mouth dropped open. “She did? I thought … Why didn’t Mr. Minnick tell me?”

  “Probably because he’s the one that sent her to the Stamping Mill, where it happened.”

  Lena’s face, drained of color, fell into her hands. He blinked down at her, surprised that she was genuinely upset. When she sat back up, several hairs had slipped from her braid. She looked better that way. Like she wasn’t trying so hard to be perfect.

  “It’ll be all right,” she said in a way that made him think she was talking to herself, not to him. “It won’t be hard to find her something else. There are plenty of jobs that don’t require a lot of experience.”

  “She had years of experience.” He scoffed. “You think we’re born knowing how to wire fuses?”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I meant that the work she was doing … it’s not exactly skilled labor.” Her face turned red.

  His probably did too.

  “So anyone can do it.”

  “I’m not saying that.” She cringed, likely because she was saying that. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “I know. That’s what makes it worse.”

  She clasped her hands over her lap, squeezing to the point of shaking. “I’m sorry. I’ve really made a mess of things. That wasn’t my intent.”

  He shrugged. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Lena.” He paused, checking her response to the use of her name. “But what do you care? You’re a Hampton. She’s nothing to you. None of us are.”

  She stared at him. “You don’t know me.”

  “Yeah, I’m beginning to get that,” he said quietly.

  “I’m talking too much.” She looked flustered again. “Please tell the girl that I’d like to make up for things.”

  A moment of awkward silence passed.

  “Okay,” he said. He could already imagine how well that would go over.

  Lena’s back straightened. Her chin lifted. “You don’t believe I’m good for it.”

  “Does it matter if I do or not?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “You should trust your employers to keep their word.”

  Her tone was so genuine he almost pitied her. She really believed that this was the way it worked. The fence around her house must have been sky-high to keep her so sheltered from the real world.

  “Trust is a hard promise to keep,” he said slowly.

  “Trust is earned,” she said. “I understand that.”

  He scratched his jaw, suspecting this was an act, and curious what she had to gain if it was. He was a nobody at the factory; he hadn’t been there half as long as some of the others and he sure wasn’t Minnick’s favorite. He was just a guy she’d met on the street, a tiny piece of the big Hampton machine. Winning his allegiance was useless.

  But winning hers might not be.

  If she really did intend to help Ty, maybe she could help all of them. Minnick didn’t listen, Otto Hampton didn’t care. But Lena had the positioning to make things happen. Goggles and suits in the hot room, maybe. Clean water for the workers. She’d bat her eyes at Daddy and they might even get overtime pay.

  “I’ll tell her you want to talk,” he said.

  “Good,” she said. “And thank you. For your time.”

  And just like that, he’d been dismissed. He pulled the door open and stepped outside. Right into Otto Hampton.

  Startled, he jerked back. Otto was wearing a collared shirt, neatly pressed, and his short, dark hair was greased to the side. He was standing beside Lena’s driver, thumbs tucked into his trouser pockets.

  “Hope I didn’t interrupt,” said Otto. Colin’s shoulders rose.

  “Otto!” Lena jumped from the passenger side. “What are you doing here?”

  “Surprised, sister?” asked Otto. “Mr. Minnick works for me, as you seem to have forgotten. As do the rest of the employees.” He sent an appraising glare Colin’s way.

  Lena’s surprise iced over. She marched around the car until she was standing between them. “I reviewed your reports, Otto. It appears as though I’m not the only one forgetting things.”

  Colin was impressed. Maybe he knew even less about her than he thought.

  Otto Hampton snorted, his expression slick with arrogance. “Does Father know about this?” He tilted his head toward Colin.

  “About what?” Say it, Colin silently dared. If you’re man enough.

  “Oh, this is rich.” Otto cracked a smile. “He’s going to defend your honor.”

  Rage, hot and sudden, struck him. Otto’s smart mouth was about to earn him a broken jaw.

  Lena turned to Colin, her eyes pleading. “Go. You’ve been excused.”

  Excused? The fun never ended with this family.

  “Yes, go back inside,” said Otto. “Before I change my mind and have you arrested for assault.” Colin looked to Lena once more, and only when she nodded did he start walking.

  “And one more thing,” said Otto, slapping his palm on Colin’s chest. Colin looked down at it slowly, imagining how he could break each finger. “Next time you put your hands on my sister, at least have the decency to bathe first.”

  Colin mustered a cold smile. Without a word, he walked back inside.

  17

  TY

  Days lasted forever when you had no green and no work.

  Ty waited in the alley outside Small Parts at closing time, but no one came out. An hour passed and still the doors stayed locked. Just before dark, she walked to Beggar’s Square and got a cup of broth and some corn mash from the line, but when she returned, there was still no movement.

  “Come on, Minnick,” she groaned. She’d hated overtime when she was working, but now that she wasn’t, she sort of missed it. There was something calming about knowing where you were supposed to be and what you were supposed to be doing. She’d been good at her job, and everyone knew it. Now what did she have? Nothing.

  She kicked a broken bottle against the door, and as if by magic, the chain inside rattled, and it swung outward.

  She recognized the faces. Harker, T.J., and a quiet kid Colin called Loudmouth. None of them looked at her. They wanted to play the high-and-mighty game? Fine by her. She didn’t like them anyway.

  When Colin emerged the load on her shoulders lightened. He spotted her across the alley and walked over, yawning and stret
ching his arms.

  “Take all night, why don’t you,” she said.

  “Miss me, Ty?”

  “Kiss my ass.” She spat on the ground. “Thought maybe another supply train had been taken out and Minnick was making you work a double.”

  At the mention of the Advocates, he groaned—they were all still burned from the extra work they’d had to do last time the rebels had struck, only to have more overtime stuffed on—but something else was bothering him. A few days ago he wouldn’t have had to tell her. She would have known, because they would have been together. But now she felt a space between them.

  Zeke tore out of the exit, his face set and furious. He was running by the time he reached the street.

  “Late to pick up his sister,” said Colin.

  Ty snorted, remembering the way he’d used her as an excuse not to make a stand against Minnick. “Too bad for him.”

  Martin came up behind them. “How’s the vacation, Ty?”

  She wove her fingers, stretched them before her. “Wouldn’t know. Spent all day at the train station loading boxes.” It was half true, anyway—she’d been to the train station looking for work, and when they’d turned her down she’d gone to the Uniform Division. She’d spent four hours in their lobby before the foreman finally came out and told her they didn’t need a girl with one eye.

  Ty looked away when Colin’s brow lifted. “You hungry?”

  “Starved,” he answered.

  “Hayak’s still got his cart out,” called Martin.

  When they reached the street, it became obvious that most of the others had the same idea. Ty was hungry again—the broth and mash hadn’t done much to quiet her grumbling stomach—and she began taking stock of everything hanging low enough that she might be able to grab without the old man catching on.

  Colin was surveying the line before them, brooding.

  “Spit it out already,” said Ty, tired of him holding back secrets.

  He pulled his hat down over his ears. “You hear anything today about last night?”

  “No, why?”

  “I think someone told Jed Schultz what happened at Lacey’s.”

  “Someone did, in fact,” said a man behind them.

  Ty spun around, her knife already palmed before she realized Jed himself was standing three feet away. Beside him were Imon and three more men from the Brotherhood. They were big, dressed like greenbacks, and didn’t look particularly friendly.

  “Mr. Walter,” said Jed, flashing a fake smile. His harsh gaze was pointed at Colin.

  “Mr. Schultz.” Colin’s ears turned faintly pink. Ty placed herself on his left side, where he was weaker, even though it kept her blind on the outside. A mix of fury and fear scored through her. After their last meeting in Jed’s office, she didn’t know what to expect.

  She became aware that the line had gone quiet. Everyone’s eyes were upon them.

  “Some concerning news has come my way,” said Jed. “Unexpected news.”

  Colin didn’t say anything. Jed leaned back, hands in his hip pockets.

  “Do you know what an organized press is, Colin?”

  Ty’s shoulders jerked. Colin was right. Someone had ratted to Jed.

  “I’ve heard of it,” said Colin carefully.

  “Do you know what happens to workers that press when they don’t have a charter?” When Colin didn’t answer, Jed took a step forward. “They get fired. They lose their jobs. And then they go hungry and lose their homes. Do you know what happens to the man that leads them?”

  Colin stood his ground, silent.

  “He gets blamed. For all those hungry stomachs and cold nights on the street.”

  “Some of us are hungry now,” said Colin. Ty bit down on the inside of her cheek.

  “I know what it’s like to want to help,” said Jed. “I know better than anyone. And so I’ve been thinking.” He glanced behind them, making sure everyone was listening.

  Here it comes, thought Ty.

  Jed opened his arms. “Small Parts would be a welcome addition to the Brotherhood. We can look out for these people, take that heavy burden off your back.”

  Slick. So slick it made Ty feel slimy. He wouldn’t be offering unless it helped him somehow. Behind her, people had begun to murmur.

  Colin contemplated this. “We’d get the same rights as the other factories? A doctor, and pay when we work overtime?”

  “Of course,” said Jed, eyes gleaming. “I’d make sure you get everything you need.”

  “And what do you get out of it?” he asked.

  Jed’s smile faded. “The satisfaction of helping the children, of course.”

  “And our money,” said Ty. Jed barely glanced over.

  “There would be a small fee,” he acknowledged. “Members pay dues.”

  “Of course,” mumbled Ty.

  “I got to pay you to watch my back?” shot Chip. Ty hadn’t heard him approach. He stood on her bad side, where her head was still bandaged.

  “Get out of here.” She pushed Chip behind her, willing Jed to forget his face. The streetlamps flickered on.

  “I’ll bring the paperwork tomorrow,” said Jed with finality. He turned.

  “Wait,” said Colin. “You didn’t answer the kid’s question. Why should we pay you, when we can do the same thing ourselves?”

  Jed turned slowly. “Because I talk to Hampton, and you do not. You need me.”

  “No,” said Ty, feeling all eyes turn her way. There was no going back now. She took a bold step forward. “You need him. You need all of us. You wouldn’t get paid otherwise.” It was all coming together, all making sense.

  “If I recall, you were fired, weren’t you? This doesn’t affect you.”

  Ty’s face went red. She could still feel his disgust when he’d looked at her eye. She could still see it on his face. “Why now? You were doing fine without Small Parts. Why do you care now?”

  Jed ran his tongue over his top lip. “Keep your dog on a leash, Mr. Walter.” He spoke in a low, threatening voice that only Colin and Ty could hear. “That’s your second warning.”

  Colin’s chin lifted. “You haven’t seen her off the leash, believe me.”

  The smirk on Jed’s face faded, and was replaced by the same darkness Ty remembered in his office. “Well, consider this. Her smart mouth just got your mother kicked out of the Brotherhood. Do you know what that means? No more protection. No more charity.”

  Ty felt a shimmer of fear work through her. “You can’t do that!” Beside her, Colin shifted, teeth grinding.

  “Oh, believe me,” said Jed. “I can do anything I want.” He backed up, and looked slowly around the crowd of workers. “All right, let me try this again. Tomorrow, Small Parts will join the Brotherhood. You’ll pay your dues, and if you don’t, I’m sure they’ll find a place for you in food testing.”

  The anger was rolling through Ty, hot and heavy. Jed Schultz thought he could walk in here and flex his muscles after years of ignoring them. Thought that everyone would bend to his whim, just because he said so. Who did he think he was, a Hampton?

  The other workers said nothing. How were they not furious? She couldn’t tell if they were afraid of losing their jobs, or relieved by Jed’s offer.

  “What’s wrong with you guys?” she said.

  “Ty, shut up!” Martin hissed behind her. “We don’t really want to press,” he added, loud enough for Jed to hear. Ty flinched.

  “That’s good to hear, son,” said Jed. “We’re looking forward to tomorrow.” He turned, the others on his tail, and made for the front of the line, where a somber Hayak gave him his choice of anything on the rotisserie.

  “That arrogant prick!” Ty growled. Martin glared at them before walking away.

  “Shut up, Ty,” said Colin quietly.

  “He just threatened your jobs!” He wouldn’t look at her, and the sick feeling inside of her spilled over. Colin didn’t have the money to buy the supplies Cherish needed. If he lost his job at Smal
l Parts, she’d die even faster. Ty had done that to them. It was her fault.

  “I’ll get some green, don’t worry. Cherish—she’ll be okay.” Ty took a step forward. “I swear I’ll help out. You believe me, right?”

  “Back off,” he said. Her chest tightened, the muscles wrapping tighter and tighter around her ribs, making it difficult to breathe.

  “Colin…”

  But he had already turned, and was walking away.

  18

  LENA

  Lena paced across the study, awaiting her father. She expected him home any minute, and she intended to intercept him before Otto did.

  Her brother was the worst kind of bully. The way he’d treated Colin was intolerable. The sneer in his tone when he’d told him to bathe. The accusation that they’d been doing something inappropriate together. She’d covered for her brother enough. He’d gone too far, and it was time her father heard of it.

  She smoothed down her sweater, hands pausing over her slim waist. As much as she hated Otto’s methods, she found herself worried. Meeting with Colin alone had been a risk; she’d known that to begin with. She hadn’t meant to confess the things she had, and she certainly hadn’t expected him to speak so frankly now that he knew who she was. It should have been insulting—her family employed him. He was from Metaltown, and she was a Hampton.

  Yet the only reason she’d gone to him in the first place was to prove to herself that she wasn’t like the rest of her family.

  She thought of his scarf, hidden in the adjacent bedroom beneath her mattress.

  The front door opened. Lena’s heels clacked against the hard wood as she jogged down the stairs toward the foyer. When she reached the bottom, her heart sank. There, beside her father, was her brother. Otto shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on the coatrack.

  “Come to greet us at the door, Lena? How very sweet.”

  She swallowed, ignoring him. “Father, I…”

  “I’d like a drink,” he told the maid. He didn’t look at Lena as he swept into the parlor.

  “What did you say?” she hissed at Otto.

  Her brother’s eyes twinkled. “Who says I said anything?”