Falling by Debbie Moon Read Free Book Online Page A

state registered?’
    The girl laughed briefly. ‘I’m not a telepath. I can’t read your mind. I see what the powers chose for me to see. The powers, and you.’
    â€˜All right, fine. I’m not here for a love life consultation –’
    Schrader sniggered deliberately, as if he felt it was expected of him.
    â€˜Just tell me my future. If you can.’
    Turning her hand over, the girl studied her palm for a moment. ‘You’re an autumn person, Jude.’
    Schrader laughed aloud. ‘Yeah, orange and brown are so in. But it’s going to take a miracle to Colour you Perfect.’
    â€˜A passing person,’ the girl continued, as if she hadn’t heard. ‘One who finds beauty in defeat. One who loves the city because it’s dying.’
    â€˜The city’s always been dying,’ Jude murmured, unsure what else to say.
    â€˜It’s time you realised that there’s beauty in victory too.’
    â€˜I don’t plan to fight any wars.’
    â€˜Life rarely goes as we plan. You asked for your future; now you have it, accept it.’
    Jerking her hand free, Jude snapped, ‘Some future. Platitudes and generalisations. You haven’t told me anything.’
    â€˜Your future lies in your past. You can only go forward by going backwards.’
    Which is exactly what I’m doing. ReTracing. Looking for the key act to undo.
    Both hands on the table, Jude leant into the booth until their faces almost touched. ‘How far?’ she whispered. ‘How far back do I have to go?’
    â€˜The scale starts at zero.’
    Year Zero?
    â€˜Bullshit,’ Jude snarled, and turned away.
    â€˜What’s the problem, Jude?’ Schrader sniggered, tailing along behind her as she shoved her way through the lines of dealers at the foot of the Millennium Bridge. ‘Didn’t you get your money’s worth?’
    â€˜Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on your bloody VIPs?’
    â€˜They can take care of themselves for a moment. It’s not like they’re stupid. Or American.’ A final sprint, and he fell into step beside her. The bridge was busy and most of the crowd flow against them, but people shrank away from them, leaving them plenty of room to pass.
    Shrank away from him, Jude corrected. From the man in the suit and the sunglasses and the wage-slave scowl. From the one who takes such delight in dressing different, acting different, proving he doesn’t belong.
    Why is he following me?
    â€˜Jude, wait. Let’s talk.’
    He actually sounded apologetic, which was a first. The few times she’d shared an assignment with him, he’d spent the whole time throwing his weight around and angling for the credit. Maybe the vibe here was rubbing off.
    She slowed, a little.
    â€˜Look. Warner told me. That you’re not operational. And I thought, well, if there’s anything you want to tell me –’
    Oh, this is all I need…
    Jude looked away. At the main expanse of the park, and beyond; at the Serpentine, a few inches of clear water shimmering over a solid crust of mud and heavy metals.
    â€˜Schrader, are you trying to break the Recommendation?’
    He looked sharply at her – the way someone would if they thought you were mocking them, which puzzled her for a moment. Then he shrugged and said, ‘I can change my life any time I feel like it, Jude. I don’t need the gory details of your future to do that. I just wondered if I could help, that’s all.’
    Wonderful. Ice-box Schrader gets overcome with emotion. Just to complete her day.
    â€˜The fact is, I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a long time.’ He drew breath, looking so much like a teenager about to proposition some impossible dream date that she almost laughed. ‘I’ve always felt we have a lot in common. Much more than you realise. But let’s start with, oh, the same determined outlook on