Finally, Callum opened the door. He wore a cushioned medical collar around his neck but looked well enough otherwise. His eyes lit up in happy surprise, and he waved for them to come inside. “What are you guys doing in town?”
Enzo and Charity followed him into a small front room. “We ran into some trouble,” she said. “We’re hoping you can help us.”
Callum shut the door. “Computer stuff? If you came here because you need help picking crops, you’re about to be disappointed.”
Furniture crowded the room. Couches huddled close together, and an antique cabinet stood awkwardly next to a bookshelf. An oversized desk sat in the corner with a computer perched on top.
“Are your parents here?” Enzo asked.
“They’re still at work.”
That was for the best. Less people to convince. Less people to implicate.
Charity and Enzo sank into the nearest couch. Callum took the one across from them. His neck looked like it was being stretched by the medical collar.
“Everything went well with your surgery?” Charity asked.
Callum tugged at the collar. “Yeah. This thing is just to make sure I don’t do something stupid like reopen the wound and bleed to death. The doctor will take it off next week.”
“That’s good.” She leaned forward, running her hands across her thighs. She seemed to be struggling to know where to start. “Remember how you said you’d like to help us?”
Callum brightened. “Did you decide you want a city job after all?”
“No,” she said. “We have a favor to ask you. A really big favor.”
Callum’s eyebrows raised. “How big are we talking?”
“Think treason,” Enzo said. Prison was also a distinct possibility.
Instead of being taken aback, Callum laughed. He probably thought they were joking. “Now I’m intrigued.”
Intrigued was better than horrified.
Charity clasped her hands in her lap, a supplicant at an altar. “My father was arrested yesterday, even though he’s never broken any laws.”
Callum sucked in a breath. “What? Why did they arrest him?”
“They think he’s a threat.” Her voice wavered and broke. “They’re mistaken about that. He’s never done anything wrong.”
Callum swore and rubbed his forehead. “They found out about the city he’s building, didn’t they? We told you that was a dangerously bad idea.”
Charity’s blue eyes turned pleading. “He’s only ever helped people, just like he helped you. Please, we need you to break into the federal prison database, find out which cell he’s in, and change Enzo’s facial recognition status so he’s able to have access to open the lock.”
Not a small list or an easy one.
“Enzo’s facial recognition?” Callum repeated. “Why would he be in the database?”
Enzo shifted uncomfortably. He’d never been ashamed of his profession before. It was a new feeling. “I’m actually a special ops officer.”
Callum jerked backward. “Are you serious? Why did you pose as a harvester?”
“Long story,” Enzo said. “Bad ending. Can you help us?” Everything depended on that answer. Enzo was either about to risk his life or comfort Charity as she dissolved into tears.
Callum lifted his hands in frustration. “It wouldn’t do any good. They have encrypted locks, don’t they?”
“Yes,” Charity said, “but we’ve already got that taken care of.”
Callum shook his head, his chin rubbing against the top of the collar. “They’re not like passwords on your phone. They change every time you use them.”