Scarlet Raven

Prologue

PrologueJillian strolled down the aisle of the grocery store, barely paying attention to the food on the shelves. Instead, she kept looking at the faces of the other shoppers. She stared into each person's eyes, even the children's. We are so sure of our place in the universe, so sure that we are important and significant and unique.

A half-smile appeared on her face as she fought a chuckle, knowing that her work at Universal Dynamics could soon show just how un-unique humans really were.

The idea that their project could take the human race to distant worlds was almost beyond her comprehension. Three times already that day, she'd been nearly overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what was happening at work.

She grabbed a can of something off the shelf. We're really going to do it.

She knew the science behind Project Centaurus. She knew it could be done. The idea that Derrick's research team, which she was a part of, were putting the finishing touches on a working prototype engine for faster-than-light space travel sent her into a self-reflective, near-catatonic daze.

Jillian turned out of the canned-food aisle and headed for the produce section.

She never thought that humans would reach another star system within her lifetime.

Ahead, the plastic zippered bags of cherries called to her. She saw the sign, proclaiming her favorite fruit to be on sale. She shook her head and forced her mind out of her wonder-filled stupor. Seeing the sign again, she smiled and walked faster. “Yum.”

The cherries were the first of the season. She picked up a bag only to put it back down just as quickly. Having considered herself something of a connoisseur, she'd long ago learned to pick the best of the bunch just by looking and giving a slight pinch.

Jillian sorted through more of the fruit and was close to giving up when she spotted a bag full of perfect cherries inside. She smiled to herself, feeling a small rush of giddiness.

With Derrick at a meeting tonight, she was looking forward to a night alone in her own apartment with her favorite guilty-pleasure shows. She loved Derrick and loved sleeping in his bed, but she did not love the docudrama crime programs he did.

She'd tried on several occasions to get him to watch an old episode of Star Trek or any of the superhero shows that popped up in the twenty-teens. He just insisted that he preferred stuff that was more grounded in the real world. Every time he said that, she struggled not to laugh. They were, after all, both working toward making one of the core elements of science fiction a reality.

Jillian reached out for the bag of cherries when a muscular hand bumped hers out of the way and grabbed it from the top of the pile.

Her heart sank as her gaze trailed up the man's muscular arm, right over the black-bird tattoo, to his face. He stood just over a head taller than her.

Jillian's eyes locked on to his and she was sucked into the deepest pair of baby-blues she'd ever seen. Shaking her head to break her daze, she realized her mouth was hanging open and closed it. Her brow furrowed into a scowl. “Hey, those are mine.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Well, they're in my hand, so it doesn't look like it.”

Her scowl deepened. “Only after knocking my hand out of the way. I just spent the last several minutes looking for the perfect bag. Those are mine.”

“Then I guess I got lucky since they're the first ones I grabbed.” He smirked, put the cherries into his own basket and turned to leave.

“Dick.”

The man stopped. His shoulders rose and fell with a deep sigh. “Fine.” He turned back and held the bag out to her.

Jillian eyed the man up and down, confused by his sudden surrender. “Okaaay.” She reached out for the bag.

Her fingers brushed the plastic when he yanked it away. The smile returned to his face. “On one condition.”

Oh god, here we go.

“Have dinner with me.”

Really? She scoffed. “That's a pretty lame pickup. You steal a girl's cherries then expect her to go out with you?”

A second later, what she'd said sunk in. Her cheeks burned.

He held out the fruit again. “Sorry, I saw the way you were looking at them and…well…”

“Hrmph.” Jillian snatched the bag away before he could take it back again.

He held his hands up in mock surrender. “Hey, easy. I'm not gonna take them back. They're yours. You earned them.”

She set the bag in her basket. “You're damn right.”

“I'm Crow, by the way.” The man extended his hand.

Jillian grabbed the next best bag of cherries she had found. She shook his hand and held out the other bag. “I should have guessed by that big-assed tattoo.”

Crow glanced down at his arm and smiled. “Yeah, well…”

“Oh, I'm Jillian, by the way.” She smiled and her cheeks blushed. “And I'm sorry to break it to you, but I'm seeing someone.”

“I know.” His voice was flat and suddenly hard as he took the bag.

His words sank in and her smile disappeared. “I…I'm sorry?” Jillian took a step back.

“Don't worry, I'm not, like, a stalker or anything.”

A chill ran up her back and the world around her went silent. She glanced up and down his body noticing a slight bulge in his right jacket pocket. Oh god, is that…? A high-pitched whine rang in her ears. “You stay away from me.”

He sighed. “Relax. I just want to talk.”

“About what?” She took another step back.

“About the engine.”

Goosebumps prickled her skin. Weeks of anti-espionage training flashed through her mind. “I…don't know what you are talking about.”

“Ms. McAdams, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to ask for your help.”

“What? What do you want from me?” His eyes bored into her. She felt him searching her very soul. “I don't know anything about any engine.”

Crow set his basket down and held up his hands. “Look, I work for some people who—”

“Whoah. Stop right there.” Jillian shifted her weight and put her grocery basket between them. A wave of panic fluttered in her stomach. “I don't know who you are or what you want, but I have nothing to say to you.”

“Just listen for a second. The people I work for, they think gray something is going on. Something that isn't just about Project Centaurus. Don't trust anyone, especially the people in charge. We think this is much bigger than UDI. This is about the entire hu—”

“Jillian!”

Derrick's voice made her spin around. “Derrick.” Oh thank god.

She took a few steps toward her boyfriend and away from Crow. Derrick speed-walked toward her, his face beaming with excitement. Her panic evaporated as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Mmmm…I was looking for you. We got the demo,” he said into her hair.

She leaned back and shook her head in disbelief. “What?”

“We got the demo, we test next Monday.” His smile widened and he vibrated with excitement.

“That's fantastic!” She hugged Derrick close but peeked back from the corner of her eye at the strange man Crow. But he was gone. A tiny flicker of dread sparked in the back of her mind but Derrick's comforting arms melted it away. Jillian resolved to be more aware of her surroundings and not let herself get caught off guard again. Maybe she'd even start carrying that pepper spray Derrick had suggested.

Her boyfriend pulled and looked down into her eyes, his face a mask of concern. “Hey, Jill, you're shaking. You okay?

Jillian banished all thoughts of Crow to the darkest recesses of her mind. She forced a wide smile and let her body relax. “I'm great! I'm just so excited!”

She tossed her groceries on top of the pile. “Let's celebrate.”

Derrick wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off her feet. “Good idea. We'll go to Armani's.”

Jillian slipped out of his arms and grabbed his hand. She leaned in close and whispered into his ear. “And then we'll have some dessert.” She pulled the strap of her purse farther up onto her shoulder and stepped backward, leading him out of the store.