‘Not just that,’ Mango said. ‘The feds will take everything we’ve earned except one vehicle and one small home. We lose the cake business, all our savings and we must make full disclosure on every patient we’ve treated. Veryan must serve twelve to eighteen months in a minimum-security federal prison on money-laundering charges.’

‘What about me and Juno?’

‘I’ve tried really hard to help you …’ Mango said, before halting.

Charlie shuddered. ‘Tried really hard, but what?’

‘You’re not an adult, so you can’t become an FBI employee. And with your past history, with the explosives …’

Charlie growled. ‘So you get off, and I go to prison? Again!’

‘You’re seventeen,’ Mango soothed. ‘You worked in a lab. You didn’t make Z-drugs or purple wasps, just designer embryos and high quality gene mods for people who wanted them.’

‘Have they given a number?’ Charlie snapped.

‘One to two years for Juno. Three to five for you, because of your record.’

Could be worse, but it doesn’t include breaking quarantine at Care4Kids …

Charlie closed her eyes and bunched a fist. ‘Why do I always get shafted? You’re treating me no better than the Janssens did.’

‘That’s not fair,’ Mango said.

‘No,’ Charlie hissed, wanting to yell but aware of her foster family in adjoining rooms. ‘What’s not fair is you blab to your celebrity friends and I go to jail. I’ve saved money. I’m getting my own lawyer. A damned good one.’

‘What have you got to offer?’ Mango asked stiffly. ‘You have nothing the feds don’t know already.’

‘But it all works nicely for you,’ Charlie said acidly.

‘I’m a mom. I get to keep my kids in a modest home and spend a minimum of eight years doing low-paid work in an FBI lab. You can blow ten grand on a lawyer, but you won’t get a better deal. And I’m not even supposed to be talking about this with you.

‘I’m closing the lab. You won’t be hearing from me again, and if you make contact I’ll pass the message to my lawyer. Goodbye, Charlie. I like you, and wish our friendship could have ended better.’

Mango closed the call window. Seconds later the tablet cut to black and a message popped on to the screen:

This device has been deauthorised and is now locked.

To reinstate access, contact your system administrator.

52 ZOMBIE SMASH

Vegas Local

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