The Drafter
By Kim Harrison
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
Peri Reed is a Drafter—a special ops agent with the unique ability to jump back forty seconds in time when missions go wrong. But this skill allows her partner, who is responsible for replacing her memory of events, to feed her false memories and set her up as a corrupt agent.
Working with Silas, a broody, intriguing psychologist trying to bring Opti corruption to light, Peri begins to piece her twisted reality together as she flees the organization she once trusted implicitly.
Peri is caught: rebuilding the memory of the night she killed her partner risks her sanity and in trying to put an end to Opti, she is only getting closer to the very faction that wants to see her dead. Can she get her revenge, or will her tenuous grip on reality leave her vulnerable all over again?
Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison is best known as the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows series, but she has written more than urban fantasy and has published more than two dozen books, spanning the gamut from young adult, accelerated-science thriller, and several anthologies and has scripted two original graphic novels set in the Hollows universe. She has also published traditional fantasy under the name Dawn Cook. Kim is currently working on a new Hollows book between other, nonrelated, urban fantasy projects.
Read more from Kim Harrison
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Reviews for The Drafter
191 ratings29 reviews
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Interesting premise but neither the execution nor the characters worked for me.
Peri Reed is a drafter, which means she can jump briefly back in time and rewrite it. She needs an anchor to help her reconcile the two timelines and recover the memories that can be recovered so that she doesn't go insane. What interested me about this was that she lost so many memories--such large blocks of time--and had to find a way to make a life for herself. I liked Peri, I understood how and why the character behaved as she did, even when she was behaving terribly. Aside from a few underdeveloped secondary characters she was the only one I liked and almost the only one I could tell apart from the others. (Specifically the male characters--they didn't have many differing characteristics so I needed to see their name to know who was who.)
Regarding the bigger threat to the world I just didn't care. Nothing in the book made me care. That never felt urgent to me.
As a side note, I really don't like it when people use "exotic" as a description, and that's used more than once here, about an Asian woman and a black man and his dreadlocks. So that's a thing. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5It was a struggle for me to get through this book.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a solid three-star book.
The book is set in a futuristic Detroit, a world without magic, with the exception of the Drafter and Anchor powers that are the focus of the book. As a drafter, Peri Reed can go back in time (seconds and minutes) and rewrite the future. Only one teensy problem- this results in memory loss, and after her latest draft Peri notices some things that make her suspicious of her organisation Opti, her partner Jack, and even herself.
The world is built in a casual way, with futuristic technology thrown into the story all over the place. I quite liked this style. And though it seems a little shallow on the surface, Harrison actually comes up with thoughtful and creative little details, like the pen Peri uses to make notes to herself in case of amnesia, or the use of makeup to interfere with facial recognition. The characters were well-done and interesting, though nothing spectacular. The plot moved fast and was mildly entertaining, though it relied a bit too much on repetition and explaining things multiple times, due to the whole memory loss thing. The book was nicely written. I think it ended in a really good place. It has serious potential for the sequel if it can liven things up a bit, and stay away from the traps I just mentioned.
Although there are similarities, this book isn't like Harrison's Hollows series. This isn't very surprising, as all of the marketing material gave me the impression it would be a different style of book. Something more serious in tone, more James Bond than Rachel (of the Hollows)- less focus on romance, less comedic elements. Although it did an okay job at this, I felt like the author was holding back a bit- I could see where more humour and fun could have slipped through. I'd really like to see some more spark in the next book. I think that's what it needs to make it stand out more. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Well, this was a disappointment and a very difficult book for me to get through. If Ms. Harrison wasn't such a good storyteller it probably would have made it a DNF for me. I thought that maybe it was suffering from first book curse. Introducing the main players, the supporting characters, the world and the concept can be tedious. But after that I would normally start to get into the story and end up loving the book. But no, it was soon apparent that that was not going to happen. It had too many problems for me that just couldn't be overcome. First of all, the more I got to know Peri, the more I disliked her. At first impression she seems to have all the qualities of what I like in my heroines. A strong heroine who knows what she wants, who she is for the most part and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. The thing is, most of the time I don't believe these things about her, she's kind of wishy washy, or more braggy about who she is which didn't seem believable to me most of the time. I can see she puts herself in difficult situations subconsciously on purpose. She seems to like getting into an unknown situation and then fight her way out. Love my heroine to be badass but Peri seemed too high strung ready to kill for just looking at me the wrong way or I was told to do it so I'll just go ahead kill without much information.One of the biggest triggers for me with this book was the fact that Peri is a woman in what seems more like a mans world. Which would be fine but I find that how the story unfolded with Peri in the middle of all these men telling her what to do and continually lies to her and when she finds out she doesn't seem to have any sense of urgency or strong enough anger to get to the bottom of things. It sort of triggered my feminist meter to outrage levels, and I got tired of asking, why are you letting this happen to you? Add to the fact that there are only two other main female characters in the story and one of them was in a position of authority but her character was to be a bitch.Another problem I had with this book, okay first of all I was very intrigued by the concept but I'm still not sure about how much sense it makes in regards to what Peri does for the organization she works for. It took a while for me to see some benefits of her power but not enough to make me believe it fits with this story. It just seems like a curse more than a, I want to have that power kind of power.In my opinion the story also didn't add up much, there where plot holes, character motivations were not clear, characters again being indecisive or not following through. Don't want to give anything away, but here are some examples of things that puzzled me: -One character obviously wanting to kill another and some how that was just glossed over or never really discussed when it would matter a lot to the story. Unless it's something that will be revisited in the next book, but it still seems strange that it was just forgotten. -Another character saying that they wanted to get Peri out of danger and when they had the chance they told her to go back into danger instead.-A character whose a trusted ally seems obviously untrustworthy by their actions and no one called them on it when I expected them to, again it was forgotten.-Information was given to said ally/foe that could put Peri in danger when.... You know what forget it my ranting is about to get out of control. It just seems like a lost opportunity with such an interesting concept I was expecting more and also very disappointing being that The Hollows Series by the same author is one of my favorite series. I really wanted to like this book, I tried looking past the things that bugged me hoping it would get better but there were just too many things to come back from for me. I think if Peri wasn't such a mess of a character, and not in a she'll grow as the series progresses kind of mess, she is a big part of why her life is basically non-existent so I just don't think I can take more of her. I should also mention that the story seemed to drag on too and that's another thing that I had a problem with, the extra unnecessary content for length was obvious. I guess when you read a lot your brain gets accustom to when a story should be reaching that high crisis point when things are revealed, so when that didn't happen I was again frustrated. Along with the other problems in the story I'm not sure if I will be continuing this series, but I will still be ready to check out anything new from Ms. Harrison won't let this one spoil me for her future books.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Synopsis: Peri Reed can change history, but at a cost. When she does change a time line, she forgets the first timeline. Her anchor keeps her from tangling memories and from losing her mind. What she doesn't know is if the group she works for is on the level or not; nor does she know if their nemesis is the good or bad guys. And tied up in all of this is a love affair, plus one that she's forgotten. The only thing that remains the same is her cat.Review: I liked the book until the last two chapters. They were lame: too much 'what's coming next' and not enough closure.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5In this inaugural novel of the Peri Reed Chronicle series, Peri Reed is a drafter, a individual gifted with a rare gift to rewind time for about 30 minutes and rewrite events. However, this gift comes with a downside. Peri forgets, not only the time rewound but longer periods of time preceding Peri is employed by Opti, a clandestine government agency that uses her gifts to benefit the United States. Paired with each drafter is an anchor who is responsible for grounding their partner by rewriting a new memory. Although anchors don't have problems remembering twin timelines; drafters would if her thoughts were not "defragged." Failure to tend to the drafter's sanity in a timely fashion could lead to paranoia and hallucinations.During a mission on which Peri and Jack, her anchor, were assigned, they discover the existence of corrupt Opti agents. Discerning who is good and bad is difficult for the remainder of this novel because of Peri's bouts with paranoia and internecine conflict between Opti and Alliance, a group with a mission to bring Opti down.Although I found the story line intriguing, the execution was lacking to me and prose repetitive and plodding at times.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book was very frustrating. The action was good, I found the complexities of just a small amount of time travel and its ramifications compelling, I liked most of the characters. But seriously, the idea of the protagonist discovering what's going on only to have her memory wiped clean by the bad guys happened one more time, I don't know that I would have gotten through the book. I don't plan on reading the subsequent books in this series at this time for that reason. Alas.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Bear in mind that I've read the entire Hollows series and I Love them when I say I had the hardest time getting through this book. The way everything repeatedly restarts almost seems like a crutch for someone to finish writing a book. I couldn't connect with the characters. I never knew what was going on. It's taken months for me to finish reading this and to be honest, I don't know if I'll pick up the next book in the series.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Well, this was a disappointment and a very difficult book for me to get through. If Ms. Harrison wasn't such a good storyteller it probably would have made it a DNF for me. I thought that maybe it was suffering from first book curse. Introducing the main players, the supporting characters, the world and the concept can be tedious. But after that I would normally start to get into the story and end up loving the book. But no, it was soon apparent that that was not going to happen. It had too many problems for me that just couldn't be overcome. First of all, the more I got to know Peri, the more I disliked her. At first impression she seems to have all the qualities of what I like in my heroines. A strong heroine who knows what she wants, who she is for the most part and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. The thing is, most of the time I don't believe these things about her, she's kind of wishy washy, or more braggy about who she is which didn't seem believable to me most of the time. I can see she puts herself in difficult situations subconsciously on purpose. She seems to like getting into an unknown situation and then fight her way out. Love my heroine to be badass but Peri seemed too high strung ready to kill for just looking at me the wrong way or I was told to do it so I'll just go ahead kill without much information.One of the biggest triggers for me with this book was the fact that Peri is a woman in what seems more like a mans world. Which would be fine but I find that how the story unfolded with Peri in the middle of all these men telling her what to do and continually lies to her and when she finds out she doesn't seem to have any sense of urgency or strong enough anger to get to the bottom of things. It sort of triggered my feminist meter to outrage levels, and I got tired of asking, why are you letting this happen to you? Add to the fact that there are only two other main female characters in the story and one of them was in a position of authority but her character was to be a bitch.Another problem I had with this book, okay first of all I was very intrigued by the concept but I'm still not sure about how much sense it makes in regards to what Peri does for the organization she works for. It took a while for me to see some benefits of her power but not enough to make me believe it fits with this story. It just seems like a curse more than a, I want to have that power kind of power.In my opinion the story also didn't add up much, there where plot holes, character motivations were not clear, characters again being indecisive or not following through. Don't want to give anything away, but here are some examples of things that puzzled me: -One character obviously wanting to kill another and some how that was just glossed over or never really discussed when it would matter a lot to the story. Unless it's something that will be revisited in the next book, but it still seems strange that it was just forgotten. -Another character saying that they wanted to get Peri out of danger and when they had the chance they told her to go back into danger instead.-A character whose a trusted ally seems obviously untrustworthy by their actions and no one called them on it when I expected them to, again it was forgotten.-Information was given to said ally/foe that could put Peri in danger when.... You know what forget it my ranting is about to get out of control. It just seems like a lost opportunity with such an interesting concept I was expecting more and also very disappointing being that The Hollows Series by the same author is one of my favorite series. I really wanted to like this book, I tried looking past the things that bugged me hoping it would get better but there were just too many things to come back from for me. I think if Peri wasn't such a mess of a character, and not in a she'll grow as the series progresses kind of mess, she is a big part of why her life is basically non-existent so I just don't think I can take more of her. I should also mention that the story seemed to drag on too and that's another thing that I had a problem with, the extra unnecessary content for length was obvious. I guess when you read a lot your brain gets accustom to when a story should be reaching that high crisis point when things are revealed, so when that didn't happen I was again frustrated. Along with the other problems in the story I'm not sure if I will be continuing this series, but I will still be ready to check out anything new from Ms. Harrison won't let this one spoil me for her future books.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not my type of story. Good character development, but I just didn't care for the storyline.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I have some mixed feelings regarding this book. I did like it but I found it to be a bit tedious at times. I love the idea behind the book. I can't tell you how many times being able to rewind time a few seconds for quick "do over" would have come in handy during my life so the idea is very compelling. The part where you need partner to help you only remember one of the timelines so that you remain sane doesn't sound quite as appealing in real life or in the book. Peri is a Drafter, which means she has the ability to rewind time for just a brief moment. She works with a partner, her anchor, whose responsibility is to help her remember only one of the timelines. Without an anchor doing his job correctly, she would be at risk of going insane anytime she drafts so it is a relationship built on trust. Peri is put in a position where she isn't sure that she can trust her anchor and senses that something may be wrong.When Peri meets Silas, she is already sensing that something is wrong at Opti, the company she works for. Something seems to click with Silas and Peri starts to trust him early on. Silas is able to act as an anchor for Peri when needed and helps her start to piece together parts of her past that are bothering her. I found Silas and his friends to be immediately likeable and easily my favorite parts of the book.The memory issues that go hand in hand with Peri's drafting made for confusing reading at times. Events would happen in one fashion and then it would change and I was left not knowing what was real and what wasn't. This is exactly what Peri is dealing with in her life over the course of the book but as a reader I found it tedious and tiring. There were some really strong points in the book as well. The idea behind the story is genius. Peri was smart and really grew on me over the course of the book. There were parts of the book that were action packed and quite exciting. The story ended with a lot of promise for the next book which I am looking forward to reading soon.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Read for Review/Listened for Fun (Edelweiss/Audible)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.50Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)Quick Thoughts: I am so glad that I listened to Sideswiped before The Drafter or I don't think I would have enjoyed this one as much as I did. I was already invested in these characters (especially Silas and Peri--as individuals not a couple). The action was top notch. The twists really twisty (so maybe there was one too many in the middle but alas the end saved it for me). The world totally fascinating. However, it was the characters that made me love this book and start the countdown to book 2.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By January LaVoy / Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins Not gonna lie--January is quickly becoming part of my 10 top narrators in the business. She just nailed The Drafter --the pacing, emotions, characters. Just really enjoyed this!Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I am a huge fan of Kim Harrison's The Hollows series and when I saw THE DRAFTER I wasn't quite sure what to think. For those in the same boat let me tell you, THE DRAFTER was an exciting, unique, fast-paced and mind-blowing experience.Peri think she knows who she is, but she couldn't possibly be more wrong. When I thought I knew who Peri was, I was wrong. She is a huge mystery that is unraveled a little bit at a time as the book unfolds. She has the crazy ability to draft and it comes with huge downfalls. Not only does she lose her memory (and never knows how much she will lose until its done), but she has to let another person in her mind to help her regain the memories that she lost. Some out of her control things happen and she ends up losing YEARS of her life and doesn't know who she can trust. I can honestly say that I couldn't even tell who she could trust most of the time. She loses a lot in DRAFTER and I could feel her struggles as she faced the many challenges thrown at her. Although Peri definitely steals the show there are some great secondary characters in THE DRAFTER. Two in particular I am really excited about seeing in book 2 and 3. I truly loved every minute and every twist and turn that THE DRAFTER threw at me and trust me, there are a LOT. I could never quite guess what was going to happen and when I had an idea, the story threw out another twist to make my head spin. Although there are plenty of answers in THE DRAFTER the end threw up new situations and questions that have me yearning for the next installment in the Peri Reed Chronicles.* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Great Read! This thing that Peri is/does... Drafting in a way is a sad thing. To lose memories and time is violating, your heart goes out to her. But despite all that Peri is a kick ass character that I just love. The Drafter is unique, fast paced and action that keeps you turning the page. I love the futuristic setting. I think fans who loved Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, will love Peri Reed. I wasn't sure at first, but after a couple chapters I was hooked.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pretty much perfect and an awesome sci-fi read, I loved it. Lots of action, makes sense, believable characters and I am glad it is part of a series.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I really wanted to like this book, however, I felt as discombobulated about this story as the main character after she drafts. I was unable to connect with any of the characters and the storyline was all over the place. It was hard to keep track of who the bad guys and good guys were after awhile, and by the time I was halfway through the book I simply didn't care. Something tells me I won't be reading the rest of this series.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this book! I'm really not interested in much science fiction but this one by Harrison is a page turner. I'm looking forward to reading the series.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5decent thriller
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Set in the near future where some people have the ability to go back in time for 30 seconds and change what happens. Sounds great until you find out that they lose their memories when they do it. Peri works for a government agency as a drafter doing jobs that might need a bit of a nudge with time. Jack is her anchor helping her remember what she loses when she has to change the timeline. When something goes wrong and the data they recover shows she is a rogue agent, Peri doesn’t know who to trust, not even her own few memories. She is approached by another agency trying to get that data to prove her bosses are corrupt. Peri is on the run and needs help with a memory glitch and is trying to find the truth with only her gut feelings to tell her if something is true or not.
I enjoyed the book and liked the setup. The ending is open enough for a sequel but isn’t a nail biting ending. I’ll definitely be picking up the second book when it arrives.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5When I saw this book advertised as part of a giveaway, I jumped at the opportunity to put my name in the drawing. I never expected that I would win a copy. So I was really looking forward to reading this book. While I was not fully intrigued or invested in the book as a whole in the beginning, I went with it as I was still holding high hopes for it to get better. For a brief moment it did but then it was fleeting. After getting to chapter sixteen which is about almost walf way, I put the book down. I read some other readers thoughts to see what they thought of the book and most liked it. So I might go back and see if the book does get any better but for now, I have moved on to another book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I didn't care for the ending. Loved the worldbuilding, had some really interesting twists and changes...but the ending felt weak and I was really unsatisfied. I'm stuck waiting for the next book, and not really in a good way. It's not a "You must give me the next book, because I MUST KNOW". It's I don't like the way this book ended, so what happens next?" This sucks.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I was simultaneously nervous and excited to crack this open. I'm a Hollows fan, and as such was worried that such a large shift in material would only lead to disappointment. I half-expected Rachel, Jenks, Ivy, Trent, and Al to show up in these pages. Admittedly this is very different than the Hollows. It's no use comparing the two. There are no supernatural creatures (yet?) contained within these pages. Everything is fairly normal and much like our own world with the exception of the Drafters and a few "futuristic" technologies scattered throughout. For the most part I wasn't disappointed. This is an introductory story which does what most introductory stories do-introduce. Characters, settings, conflict. It's a foundation upon which Harrison will build on. She's good at that. I enjoyed Peri and her inner conflict. I could picture a Lucy Liu-esque woman kicking butt and taking names. I wish there were a few more details on her history and relationship with the other characters, namely Silas, but that may be material saved for another day. I read Sideswiped prior, but I feel as if that only created more questions in my mind than answers.I had to warm up to the Hollows and I imagine I'll have to do the same here. That said, it's a good story. Full of action, adventure, plot-twists and suprises. I'm curious to see where Harrison will take things. I feel that her stories and heroines are strongest with solid supporting characters and that potential is definitely here. All in all this was a very satisfying read and I'm grateful to Goodreads and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review this latest work from Kim Harrison.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not my type of story. Good character development, but I just didn't care for the storyline.
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved this, from start to finish. It kept me up late to read just a few more pages, and how much better than that does it get?
Peri Reed is an elite government agent with the ability to alter time - just a few seconds, but a few seconds in the right place can make all the difference. The only trouble is, every time she alters history, she forgets part of her life - sometimes hours, sometimes weeks or months. It's an occupational hazard, and Peri has to cope with it: she writes herself notes; she has her routines, ways she can function even when she can't remember what's she's doing or why.
Kim Harrison has said that The Drafter is a commentary on Alzheimer's Disease, and the way sufferers lose their past, a bite at a time, and initially try to cover up the gaps until the gaps get too big. Reading with that in mind made the story better yet, as you concentrate on Peri - the way she tries to cope, and the way the people around her react.
Suffice to say, it's very easy to deceive a person when they trust you to do the remembering for them.
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A fairly imaginative story foundation: rare individuals who can edit the draft version of history by forcing a “replay” of the events of the last few minutes so that they can make alternate choices, but who then lose almost (the almost is critical) all memory of the event to keep from going insane. It makes for some interesting possibilities in story line.Unfortunately, the characters aren’t nearly as engaging as those in the author’s Hollows series and the ending of this first volume in the series was weak and unsatisfying.I’ll give it one more volume to see if Harrison can find a pace with the characters that matches the possibilities of the premise
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Interesting premise and world building. Unfortunately, Kim Harrison is unable to transcend the central premise of her novel, with the story becoming trapped in a repetitive loop. The result of all this is an almost complete lack of character development, particularly notable in the protagonist, Peri, but seen across the entire cast. In cases where characters do appear to develop, this development is often arbitrarily undone later in mere sentences, resulting in characters that feel paper thin and subject to the whims of the author, not the world she is building. One of many examples occurs right at the end, when the author, after having spent the bulk of the novel convincing us that Allen is untrustworthy, and with Peri in a position to know the degree of evil actions perpetrated by Allen against her, has Peri not only let Allen off the hook but into her mind, within a few pages, and with no reason given for her returning this trust to him. Overall, an utterly mediocre thriller that even the most intriguing world building doesn’t have a hope of rescuing.
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- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Set in the future with the sci-fi aspects only coming in the form of upgrades to technology, this psychological thriller is vastly different from anything the author has exposed us to in the past.Imagine that you have the ability to go back thirty seconds in time—drafting—to change an event. The problem is that you now have memories of two different timelines and to compensate, you lose minutes or more of your memory. Another person, an anchor, is required to defragment the two timelines and bring back your lost memory.Peri Reed is a super trained, kick butt officer for a covert government agency called Opti, sent out with her partner to do things that she believes are important for her country. She’s one of their strongest drafters and she’s starting to remember things that just don’t jive. And she’s hearing that many of the Opti agents, including her, are corrupt. She should know if she’s corrupt, shouldn’t she? It turns out a lot more has been done to her mind than she’d been aware of, and she’s out to discover the truth while not knowing who to trust as another group called the Alliance, is working to shut down Opti’s corruption.The world building when it comes to how the drafting works as well as the resulting dangers to the mind and person as it’s manipulated is both detailed and deep, and a huge part of the story. Plenty of detailed action, the story has a lot of twists and intrigue. But for me it also had a lot of repetition.Some confusion in the first few chapters as the reader gets a handle on what Peri experiences due to a draft as well as her own confusion when things don’t jive for her and she starts to question what she thinks she knows. Hang in there.The futuristic personal marketing in stores the author came up with is both scary and unfortunately, all too believable.5 stars for the world created, the action, twists and intrigue. But I’m taking away a star due to the repetitiousness that had me setting the book aside a couple of times.Read as an ARC via Edelweiss/Above the Treeline.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This thriller had it all – suspense, paranormal in a futuristic timeline, romance and the ever-present manipulation humankind bring down on each other.Full of creative talent, Kim Harrison riveted me to the page building this world—I loved it. Never had read Ms. Harrison before, I’m keeping my eyes open for further books from her. I’m a believer of this dynamic and ever changing world Peri Reed is in and can’t wait to experience the rest of the series.I think the most exciting part about the story is its complexity, so well described. I wasn’t able to figure out who the bad guy/guys was/were. There were so many who appeared in sheep’s clothing (believably so), but you just knew there was something off-kilter.The heroine, Peri Reed, very well-trained and extremely intelligent, didn’t know who to trust. She didn’t have true memories to help her. Who were feeding her lies? Her memories were partially erased or manipulated – only her intuition could guide her. Jack was Peri’s love. He was also her anchor. But Allen was her anchor, too. Then there was Silas. All anchors. Peri could trust no one.When Peri drafted she changed what is. It was like rewinding a scene and replaying the outcome. With each draft she would lose time, she would also lose a little more of herself. If she were killed, she’d draft for sure to save her life and she’d be aware of two timelines, not able to know which one was real, because they both were. That’s why anchors were so important to drafters–they kept them sane. Her anchor would help her focus in a one timeline – the one they wanted her to remember. Peri was manipulated, made over many times, and slowly was losing who she really was. Could she find herself? Could she live without an anchor?The writer writes an intense, riveting, compelling story. And as a reader, I loved every minute of it. The confusion and emotions swirling through Peri swirled through me. When the dust settled, it’s hard to grasp it all. Boy, am I ready for book two!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5THE DRAFTER begins a new series set in Detroit in the year 2030. The main character is Peri Reed who is a drafter. She can change time but as a consequence needs an anchor to help her reconcile the two memories. She works for an organization called Opti which uses drafters and anchors to maintain political stability, fight terrorists, and do other things for the good of humanity. At least, that is what Peri believes is Opti's mission and she is proud to be one of their soldiers.The Alliance is an organization of drafters and anchors who are trying to bring Opti down because they know that Opti is not working for the good of humanity but for the good of a handful of rich families. When Peri comes upon the Alliance in the person of Silas she comes to question the memories that she has.This was a twisty story and, since it was told from Peri's viewpoint, we only know what she knows. Since her memory is being manipulated, what she knows keeps changing. I found it confusing at first but really came to like Peri who was trying so hard to find out what was real and to reclaim herself.I will be eager to find out what happens next for her.
Book preview
The Drafter - Kim Harrison
PROLOGUE
2025
The room was a featureless eight-by-eight, the monotony relieved by a single chair and the door pad softly glowing in the recessed overhead lights. Pulling up from a stretch, Peri stifled a shudder as a feeling of electricity crawled over her skin, pooling where the training suit pinched.
Concerned, she passed a hand over the spiderweb of white stress lines in the otherwise black leather, frown deepening when her hand turned to pinpricks as the electric field in the fabric phased. Seriously? The slick-suit ran from her neck to the tops of her boots, elevating her slight form to dangerous and sexy, but a wardrobe malfunction would slow her down.
Hey! Excuse me?
she called toward the ceiling, her high voice laced with demand. I’m getting excessive feedback from my slick-suit.
A soft chime fell flat in the tiny room as the audio connection opened. I’m sorry,
a man’s voice said, the hint of sarcasm telling her they knew it. Possible suit malfunctions are acceptable under the parameters of the exercise. Begin.
Again the chime rang. Adrenaline surged with her quick intake of breath. She didn’t see the cameras, but people were watching, comparing every move to an unattainable perfection. Squandering a cocky three seconds, she stretched to show her confidence along with her lithe shape. Challenge one: technological fence, she thought, glancing at the locked door pad.
In a swift motion, she grasped the back of the wooden chair, flinging it into the wall. It hit with a startling crack of wood, and she knelt before the pieces. Nimble fingers bare of the slick-suit’s gloves sifted through until she found a metal pin. Rising, she padded to the locked door and used it to wedge open the door pad.
This task is mine, she thought, then walled it off, concentrating on the maze of wires until she found the one she wanted. Hand fisted, she tensed to yank one of the wires free, then hesitated. With her malfunctioning
suit, she might end up on her ass, blowing out smoke as she tried to remember how to focus. Not worth the risk, she thought, following the wire back to the circuit board and shorting the door with the pin instead. The ceiling chimed her success. Peri saluted the unseen cameras, smug as the door slid open. Eleven seconds.
Pin set between her fingers to gouge, she dove into the cooler air and into a spacious, spongy-floored room. The ceilings were higher, the light brighter, and at the far end, a closed door beckoned, the light on the lock already a steady green. Beyond it was everything she’d been working for, everything she’d been promised. She just had to get there.
A faint whisper of air gave her warning. Peri ducked, lashing out with a back kick to send a man pinwheeling into the wall. Shit, he’s huge! she thought as his slick-suit flashed white. But it was fading to black even as she watched. He wasn’t out of it—yet.
Nothing personal, right?
she said, her eyes jerking from his holstered weapon to the two men sprinting toward her. Three against one wasn’t fair, but when was life ever?
They attacked together. Peri dropped, rolling to take out the closest. He fell and she swarmed him, jabbing his throat with her elbow. There was the telltale thump of a pad, but she’d struck hard enough to make him gag. His slick-suit flashed white as she rolled to her feet. One down.
The second grabbed her, a glass knife shadowed with electronics at her throat. Screaming in defiance, she stabbed his ear with the chair pin. He howled in real pain, and she threw him over her shoulder and into the first man, now recovered.
Following them both down, she scrambled for his blade, running the glass training knife across both their throats. The glow of the technological blade against their skin flashed, indicating a kill, and their slick-suits turned white. Gasping, they went still, paralyzed. Real blood, looking alien on the training floor, dripped from the one man’s ear.
Peri straightened, keeping the pin as she turned her back on the men and walked confidently to the distant door. No more lame excuses, she thought, the adrenaline high still spilling through her, though shifting to a more enduring burn of anticipation. She’d been working toward this for months. How many times did she need to prove she was ready?
With a heavy thunk, the lights went up. At the door, the pad shifted to a locked red.
Peri jerked to a halt. Excuse me?
she directed at the ceiling, and the audio connection pinged open.
You failed to demonstrate proficiency with projection weapons,
the man said, but she could hear an argument in the background.
Peri cocked her hip, knowing the time was still running, ruining her perfect score. "You mean a gun? she asked with disdain.
Handguns are noisy and can be taken away, and then I have to do more damage to fix it."
Your time is still running,
the man said, smug.
How can I prove my value if you keep changing the rules?
she muttered, stomping back to the three men, still paralyzed in their white slick-suits. Jaw clenched, she snatched the nearest man’s handgun. I already killed you,
she said when the man’s eyes widened, and she spun, shooting out the cameras in the corners instead: one, two, three.
Reed!
the man shouted as his screens undoubtedly went black.
Peri dropped the weapon and waited, shaking the pinpricks from her fingertips. The audio channel was still open, and a smile quirked her lips as she caught some argued phrases, best we have
and it’s that shitty attitude of hers that makes her perfect.
Glancing at her watch, Peri shifted her weight. So am I going, or do you want me to try it again with feeling? I have stuff to do today.
There was silence, and then a younger voice took the mic. You will report to medical tomorrow at nine. Congratulations, Agent Reed. It’s yours.
Her breath caught, the quick intake lighting a fire all the way to her groin, and then she steadied herself. Friday,
she countered, ignoring the men behind her, groaning as their slick-suits returned to a black neutrality. I want to say good-bye to my mother.
Again the silence, and Peri’s good mood tarnished as she caught a whispered might not remember her when she gets back.
Friday,
the young voice finally said, and Peri’s jaw clenched at the pity in it. Her mother didn’t deserve anyone’s pity, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to say good-bye.
The lock shifted green, a solid thump echoing as the door opened onto an empty, white hallway. Her thoughts already on a shower and what was in her closet that her mother might actually approve of, Peri paced forward into the light.
CHAPTER
ONE
FIVE YEARS LATER
Peri Reed reclined in the plush leather chair across from the CEO’s desk, her feet up on the coffee table, enjoying the adrenaline pooling as she waited in the dark for Jack to find what they had come for. His mood was bad, but that wasn’t her fault. Bored, she helped herself to a foil-wrapped, imported chocolate from a nearby dish.
Really, Peri?
Jack said at her mmm of appreciation.
So hurry up.
Licking her lips, she deftly folded the foil into a tiny hat, which she set jauntily on the statue of the naked woman holding the dish. This guy knows his chocolate.
I prepped for glass. Wave technology isn’t even on the shelves yet,
Jack complained, his tan face pale and distorted through the holographic monitor. The touch-screen projection hazed Jack’s athletic shape and black Gucci suit, and Peri wondered whose ass the CEO of Global Genetics was kissing to get the new holographic touch-screen technology.
My good heels are in the car. Waiting. Like me,
she prompted, and he hunched, his jabbing fingers opening and closing files faster than a texting fourteen-year-old.
Impatient, Peri stood and ran a quick hand through her short black hair. Her mother would hate its length, insisting that a woman of quality kept long hair until she was forty, and only then allowed it to be cut shorter. Moving to the window, Peri smiled at her manicure in perverse satisfaction. Her mother would hate the color as well—which might be why Peri loved the vibrant maroon.
Shaking her hem down to cover her low-heeled boots, she exhaled her tension and focused on the hazy night. The black Diane von Furstenberg silk jumpsuit wasn’t her favorite, even if it had been tailored to fit her precisely and was lined with silk to feel like ice against her skin when she moved. But add the pearls currently in the car with her heels, and it would get second and third glances at the upscale pool hall she’d picked out as a spot where she and Jack could decompress.
If we ever get out of here, she thought, sighing dramatically to make Jack’s ears redden.
The projected monitor was the only spot of light in the office suite with its heavy furniture and pictures of past CEOs. Surrounding buildings were lit by security lights dimmed to save power. Low clouds threw back the midnight haze of Charlotte, North Carolina. This high up, the stink of money had washed away the stink of the streets. The corruption, Peri thought, stretching to run a finger over the lintel to intentionally leave a fingerprint, is harder to hide.
One of these days, that’s going to bite you on the ass,
Jack said as she dropped back to her heels. Her print would come up as classified, but it would also tell Opti that they’d been successful—or at least that they’d come and gone. Success was beginning to look questionable. Five minutes in, and Jack was still searching for the encrypted master file of Global Genetics’ latest engineered virus, the hidden one that made it race-specific.
The faint clunk and hum of the elevator iced through her. Her head tilted to the cracked door, and she shocked herself with the sweet candy still on her lips. She never would’ve heard it had the floor been busy, but in the silence of a quasi-legal, government-sanctioned break-in . . .
Don’t leave my sight,
Jack demanded as he hooked the rolling chair with his foot and pulled the leather throne toward him to sit. His fingers hesitated, jabbed the holomonitor, then waved the entire field to the trash. His brow was furrowed, and the glow of the projection made his face appear gaunt and his blue eyes almost black. Feeling sassy, Peri sashayed to the door, liking being paid to do what anyone else would be jailed for. Jack looked too sexy to be good at the computer stuff, but in all fairness, he was as proficient as she in evasion and offense. Which is why we’ve survived this long, she thought as she slipped the flexible, palm-size wafer of glass out of her pocket and powered it up. Her Opti-augmented phone was glass technology, and up until seeing the CEO’s wave, she’d thought it was the best out there. Hitting the app that tied into the building’s security, she brought up the motion sensors.
The screen lit with a harsh glow. Dimming it, she crouched to peer into the secretary’s office. One wall of the outer office was open to allow for a view of the common office area beyond. Intel said the night guard was cursory, but intel had been wrong a lot lately.
The app finished its scan and vibrated for her attention. No movement, she thought as she looked at the blank screen, not trusting it. I can’t do my job from here,
she whispered, tensing when the elevator hummed to a halt and a beam of light lit the ceiling. Keys jingled. The translucent screen in her palm lit up with a bright dot. Shit.
I can’t do mine if you leave my sight,
Jack said. Stay put, Peri. I mean it.
Arcs of harsh light played over the ceiling—closer, coming closer. Adrenaline coursed through Peri once more, and the soles of her feet began to ache. Catch,
she said, rolling the phone into a tube and tossing it at him. He scrambled for it, his silhouette tight with anger against the city lights.
Let me know if we get more than one,
she said as she yanked on her pendant, jerking the tiny felt marker from its cap. Otherwise, keep working.
Don’t go out there without me,
he said, his sudden alarm at the click of the pen uncapping jerking through her.
Just find the files. I’ll be right back.
J IN OFFICE she wrote on her palm, avoiding him as she blew it dry, recapped the pen, and tucked it behind her top.
Peri . . .
I wrote a note,
she said, nervous at his angst, and she slipped out, easing the door nearly closed behind her. Dropping to the flat carpet, she wiggled across the receptionist’s office and peered around the end of the desk, propping herself up on the flats of her arms to wait for a visual on the guard. Jack was right to be concerned. He had to witness a draft to anchor her. But to fail meant the deadly virus might reach an already decimated Asia.
That’s why they were here, to find and remove the files concerning the virus before a second wave of death washed through what had once been nearly two-thirds of the world’s population. Opti had commissioned the first wave three years ago, when Asia’s political hierarchy thumbed their noses at the new CO2 levels set by the United Nations and therefore threatened the entire world with continued rising global temperatures. But this second wave of tactical bioengineered population reduction was illegal, funded by the Billion by Thirty club with the sole intent of broadening their financial interests in Europe. Peri thought it amusing that she and Jack had helped almost half of its members gain their admission.
The light on the ceiling became focused. Warning prickled her skin as the jingling keys grew louder and a uniformed man came around the desks. Peri’s brow furrowed.
It wasn’t the guard that Bill, their handler, had told them would be here. This man was younger and thinner, and wasn’t singing along with his phone. As Peri watched, he tucked his flashlight under his arm and used a card reader to go into one of the private offices ringing the floor. Lips pressed, she waited until the guard came out with a square bottle of something sloshy.
Damn. He was a lifter: familiar with every office and comfortable with treating the building as his personal, no-card-required shopping mall. The best case would have him on the alert for anything out of the ordinary as he strove not to get caught. The worst case would have him in the CEO’s office sampling the chocolate.
Breath held, Peri crept back to Jack. He looked up from her phone as she eased the door shut, frowning when the lock clicked on and a red light from the door pad glowed in the dark. Don’t leave my sight!
he whispered, yelling at her in a soft hush.
We got a lifter,
she said, and Jack’s fingers hesitated.
He coming in here?
Give me a second, I’ll go ask him.
Mood sour, he returned his attention to the crystalline projection. Peri padded over for her phone, breathing in the light scent of his sweat as she tucked it away. Her mind drifted to the sensation of his touch on her skin as his quick fingers searched folders and files. Maybe the files have a biometric lock?
she suggested.
No. I simply think it’s not here. We might need to hit the labs downstairs,
Jack grumbled, doing a double take when he realized her lips were inches from his ear. Peri, back up. I can’t work when you’re that close.
The labs? Good God. I hope not.
Peri leaned to put her arms across his shoulders. Her bag—filled with all sorts of interesting things that needed an artist’s touch to get past TSA—rested on the desk, and she wondered if she should get something out of it, but everything was noisy. Why don’t you shut it down. He’s just shopping, and we’ve got all night.
It’s not here,
he muttered, and she pushed off his shoulders and went to listen at the door. Hearing a sliding clatter, she roughly gestured for Jack to cut the light. Grim, Jack stood, fingers still flicking files about the screen. I thought wave technology had a sleep corner,
he whispered.
Peri tensed. Footsteps. Coming closer. Shut it off. Now!
Jack’s face was creased in the dim glow. I’m trying.
The guard was in the secretary’s outer office, and she settled into a balanced readiness beside the door. He was coming through it—she knew by the prickling of her thumb and the itch in her feet. Damn it, Jack. I haven’t drafted in six months. Don’t make me do it now.
Got it!
he whispered, fingers waving across the monitor as he found the off switch.
Got it
wasn’t good enough, and with a tiny beep from the locking pad, the door clicked open and the security guard came in, flashlight searching.
He was a cool customer, she’d give him that. Silent, he took in Jack, standing behind the desk like a guilty teen found looking at his dad’s porn. Expression twisting, the man dropped the bottle and reached for the pistol on his belt.
Peri moved as the bottle clunked on the carpet. The man yelped, shocked when her crescent kick slammed out of the dark and into his wrist, knocking his handgun into the secretary’s office. Hand to his middle, the security guard dropped back. His shock turned to anger when he saw Peri’s slim figure cloaked in chic black. True, it looked suspicious, her in the dark and in an upper office where she had no right to be, but add some jewelry and Louboutins, and she was ready for a five-star restaurant. You’re nothing but a little bitty girl,
he said, reaching for her.
I prefer the term fun-size.
Grinning, Peri let him grab her, spinning around and levering him up and over her shoulder. He’d either go where she sent him or he’d dislocate his arm. He went, hitting the carpet with a muffled thump.
Ahhhhoow!
the guard groaned as he pulled the unbroken whiskey bottle out from under him. The flashlight rolled, sending shiny glints across the black panes of glass.
Jack frantically worked at the computer, his head low and blond hair hiding his eyes.
Enjoying the chance to take the big man down, Peri gathered herself to fall on him. Eyes wide, the guard jerked away, and she changed her motion into a heel jab that never landed, then fell into a ready stance between him and the handgun. We have to get out of here, like now.
The guard spun upright, fumbling for the radio on his belt. Put a wiggle in it, Jack!
she exclaimed, lashing out with a crescent kick, a front kick, then a low strike to his knee as she drove the guard back—anything to keep him from his radio. She loved the adrenaline, the excitement, the knowledge that she had what it took to beat the odds and walk away without reprisal.
The man shook it off, and she lashed at his ear, lurching when she hit his jaw instead. A solid thump on her right shoulder sent her reeling. Peri stumbled, feeling the coming bruise. Anger fueled her smile. He was good and liked to cause pain. If he landed a clean strike, she’d be out—but beating those odds would only make her win more satisfying.
Quit playing with him!
Jack shouted.
I need to burn off some calories if I want cake tonight,
she said as the guard felt his lip, thoughts shifting behind his eyes when his fingers came away shiny with blood. Suddenly he ran for the door and his handgun.
We’re having pie, not cake, and stay where I can see you,
Jack called.
She jumped the guard, snagging a foot before he reached the door. He went down, dragging her across the carpet. Chin burning and eyes shut, she let go when he kicked. Peri jerked away, gasping when the guard turned, looming over her with his fist pulled back.
No!
Jack shouted as the guard struck her full in the face and her head snapped backward. Dazed, Peri wavered where she sat.
Don’t move! Or I fucking shoot her!
the guard shouted.
She couldn’t see straight. The gun pointed at her held no meaning as she tried to figure out what had happened. Dizzy, she felt her face, jerking when the pain exploded under her fingers. But it focused her, and she looked at Jack behind the desk. Eyes meeting, they silently weighed their options. Jack had a handgun and she had a blade in her boot. They’d never needed extraction from local authorities in their entire three years together. She wasn’t planning on starting now, and certainly not getting fingered by a dirty rent-a-cop.
You at the desk!
the guard barked, and Peri’s gaze on his handgun narrowed as she estimated the distance. Come here where I can see you,
he said, one hand fumbling behind his back for his cuffs. Hands up. You make a move to lower them, and I shoot her.
Hands in the air, Jack edged out from behind the desk. He coughed, and the barrel of the guard’s gun shifted to track him.
Bravo!
a clear, masculine voice exclaimed from the doorway.
The guard turned, shocked. Peri lashed out in a spinning kick. Impact against the guard’s hand vibrated through her even as she followed through and rose into a crouch and from there to a stand, the flat of her still-swinging foot slamming into the guard’s head.
Spittle and blood sprayed and the guard crashed into the coffee table. His handgun fell, and she kicked it to the far windows. Jack went for the man in the doorway. Knowing he had her back, Peri followed the guard down, fist clenched to hit him somewhere painful.
But the guard was out, his face bloody and his eyes closed. Resisting the urge to hit him anyway, she looked up as Jack shoved an older man in a suit into the office at gunpoint.
Impressive,
the man said, nodding to the guard. Is he dead?
No.
Peri stood. What the hell? she thought, unable to read Jack’s tight expression. This couldn’t be a test. They’d already had their yearly surprise
evaluation job.
Good. Keep it that way,
the man said as if he was in control, regardless of having no weapon, if Jack’s hasty but thorough pat-down was any indication. I’ve been meaning to take him off the payroll, but I’d prefer unemployment over a death benefit to his wife.
This isn’t how we do things, Peri thought as Jack shoved the man into one of the cushy chairs, where he fixed his tie, affronted. Peri looked from the slightly overweight man to his photograph on the desk, posing with a stiff-looking woman in too much makeup. This was his office. Bloody toothpicks, Bill will have a cow if I off a CEO.
I have what you came for,
the manicured, graying man said, his soft fingers reaching behind his coat to an inner pocket.
Peri lunged. Her knee landed between his legs and he gasped at the near miss. One hand forced his head back; the other pinned his reaching hand to the arm of the chair. Don’t move,
she whispered, and irritation replaced his shocked pain.
He wiggled, wincing when she shifted her knee a little tighter. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t be here myself,
the man said, his voice strained but angry. Get off me.
Nah-uh,
she said, fingers digging into his neck in warning, then louder, Jack?
Jack eased close, the scent of his aftershave familiar as he reached behind the man’s coat to slip free an envelope. It had Jack’s name on it, and Peri went cold. He knew we’d be here?
Get off,
the older man said again, and this time, Peri eased back in uncertainty.
Jack passed his handgun to her, and she retreated to where she could see both the CEO and the downed guard. The crackle of the envelope was loud, and the older man readjusted himself, giving Peri a dark look. What is it?
she asked, and Jack unfolded the paper inside and shook a pinky-nail-size memory chip into his hand. Is it the files?
Her attention shifted to the CEO when he palpated his privates as if estimating the damage. No. I printed out the highlights to justify my request. You tell Bill that what I found warrants more than a paltry three percent,
he said, shaking his arms to fix the fall of his coat. Three percent. I just saved his ass and he thinks I’m going to take three percent?
Jack?
Peri whispered, disliking her uncertainty. He knows Bill? What’s going on?
Face white, Jack angled the printed page to the faint light coming in the window. Fingers fumbling, he tipped the chip onto his glass phone. It lit up as the data downloaded, and Jack compared the two, going even more pale as he verified it.
The man leaned toward the side table, his gaze lingering on the foil hat before he took a chocolate from the dish. You’re very good, missy. Watching you . . . I’d believe you myself.
He smiled, white teeth gleaming in the ambient light.
Jack looked more angry than confused. Peri’s gut knotted. The CEO knew Bill. Was he proposing a deal?
You made a mistake.
Jack folded the paper around the chip and tucked it away with his phone.
The man snorted and put an ankle on a raised knee. The only mistake is Bill thinking he can get something for nothing. He can do better. I only want a fair price for what I have.
Shit, Peri thought, her alarm mutating to anger. He was trying to buy them. They were Opti agents. Drafters and anchors had to be trustworthy to a fault or the government that trained them would literally kill them. Drafting time was too powerful a skill to hire out to the highest bidder, especially now.
Fear settled in her like old winter ice, cracked and pitted, as Jack cocked his head at the angle he always had when he was thinking hard, and a weird light was in his eye.
Jack?
she said with sudden mistrust. What’s that list?
His expression cleared. Lies,
he said blandly. All lies.
The CEO bit into a chocolate. The truth is far more damning than anything I could invent. It’s a list, lovely woman, of corrupt Opti agents,
he said as he chewed. Your name is on it.
CHAPTER
TWO
Peri’s finger tightened on the handgun, and she forced her finger away from the trigger. Shock filled her, doubt and anger close behind. Liar!
she cried, jumping at him.
Don’t!
Jack shouted, and she landed on the man, pinning him to the chair and wedging the muzzle of the gun under his chin.
You made that list up!
she exclaimed, and the man’s head jerked as she shoved the gun harder against him. "Tell him! Tell him!"
Peri, get off!
Jack demanded, and Peri gasped at the echoing blast of a gun fired in close quarters. Pain was a stake of iron pounded into her chest, and she looked at the man under her, his eyes fixed on hers and his face unblemished. She hadn’t shot him.
Peri took a breath, agony stabbing her again. Oh shit, she thought, and then she fell back as Jack pulled her to the carpet. The guard she’d downed had shot her. Damn it, she was dying, the bullet still in her as she choked, bloody froth gathering at her lips as pain made it hard to breathe.
What the hell are you doing!
Jack shouted at the CEO, Peri’s head cradled in his lap.
The CEO stood, and she could do nothing, pinned by a thousand-pound weight. Oh God, it hurts. But Jack was here. She’d be okay if she could hold it together long enough . . . to draft.
She’s on that list,
the man said, pointing down at her like God’s avenging angel. She can’t walk out of here knowing she’s been marked. I’m doing you a favor. Bill owes me. He owes me big.
You cretin,
Jack snarled up at him. She won’t remember any of this in about thirty seconds. You think we don’t know her past? Who she is? That doesn’t mean she’s not useful! She’s a goddamned drafter! You know how much she’s worth? How rare she is?
What . . . what is he saying? He thought she was . . . corrupt? Selling her skills to the highest bidder? Oh God. Her name was on the list?
And then the pain grew too much. Adrenaline pooled, tripping her over the edge and jumping her brain into synaptic hyperactivity. She was going to draft. She couldn’t stop it—and it would save her life. Again.
Eyes widening, she felt the tingle of sparkles gather at the edges of her sight, flooding her as she breathed them in, swirling through her mind until she breathed them out—and with a soft hush of gathered energy, she jumped into the blue haze of hindsight.
Peri’s vision flashed blue and settled as her mind fell into knowing. Her breath came in without pain, and she knew it for the blessing it was. She was drafting, and she stood before the CEO, watching as he reached for a chocolate. Fear made her aim shake. Her name was on Jack’s list? But how? She knew who she was, and she wasn’t a dirty agent.
Peri looked at Jack, his expression tight. He was frustrated and angry, but at the CEO, not her. As an anchor, he knew they were rewriting the last thirty seconds, unlike everyone else, who would never even notice the small blip apart from perhaps a faint sense of déjà vu. Until time meshed, she’d remember everything. Afterward, she’d remember nothing until Jack returned the final timeline to her—and now, she had a doubt.
Jack?
she whispered, terrified of what her gut was telling her. He was angry, not shocked—as if he’d already known. But how could she be something she knew she wasn’t?
Jack turned away, and her fear redoubled.
The truth is far more damning than anything I could invent,
the older man said as he bit into a chocolate, oblivious to the new timeline forming. It’s a list, lovely woman, of corrupt Opti agents. Your name is on it.
She was not corrupt. A fire lit in her. Screaming in anger, she pivoted to the guard crawling slowly toward the windows and his forgotten handgun.
Peri, wait!
Jack lunged to knock the gun spinning from her.
Panicking, the guard scrambled for his weapon. Peri shoved Jack out of her way. The guard scooped up the Glock, and she kicked him into the window. Snarling, he brought his gun down on her and she snapped a front kick to his wrists. The gun went flying.
Face ugly, the guard grabbed her around the neck and slammed her to the floor. Peri’s eyes bulged as she tried to breathe. One hand clawed at his grip, the other reached for the knife in her boot. Stars spotted her vision as she jammed it into him, angling it up under the ribs. If she died in a rewrite, she’d be dead. It was him or her.
Gagging on his own blood, the guard rolled away, hands clenched to his chest.
Free, Peri sat up, hands on her neck as she rasped for air. The strong scent of whiskey wafted from the guard. She coughed, bile-tainted chocolate blooming bitter at the back of her throat.
How am I supposed to explain this!
the CEO shouted, standing over the guard, who spilled bubbly blood from his mouth as he panicked and began to choke.
Jack stomped back to the desk and scooped up Peri’s short-job bag. Haven’t you ever heard of the chain of command? We know who she is. We always have. You really fucked this up.
Me?
the man exclaimed, voice rising. I’m not the one who killed him.
I don’t kill anyone who doesn’t kill me first,
Peri wheezed. Beside her, the guard gurgled, not quite suffocated in his own blood yet—but close.
The CEO spun to stare at her. What?
Get out,
Jack said, and Peri jerked away when he reached to help her stand. Go hide under your secretary’s desk. I don’t want to have to explain you when she snaps out of it.
Snaps out of what?
The CEO’s eyes widened. Then it’s true? She can change the past? Are we in a draft? Right now? But it feels real.
That’s because it is.
Pissed, Jack picked up the gun—the one that had killed her. It’s the first draft that’s false—or will be, rather, after she finishes writing this one.
You know who she is and you still trust her?
The man hunched over with his hands on his knees as he peered at her. She hated his wonder, his amazement—but if he knew about drafters, he was dead.
With my life.
Jack checked the pistol and snapped the cylinder closed. In about ten seconds, she’s not going to remember anything but what I tell her. Now, will you go hide? I don’t want to have to explain you.
Peri sat on the floor, her fingers clenched in the flat carpet as she shook. She’d thought she was capable. She’d thought she was strong. But she was vulnerable. People were the sum of their memories, and apparently hers were whatever Jack told her. They hadn’t come here to find the virus files. They were here to secure a list of corrupt Opti agents—and Jack didn’t have a problem that her name was on it. Maybe she was corrupt. How long? How long had this been going on?
Who else has the list?
Jack said, glancing at his watch.
No one. I assumed Bill would be . . . reasonable,
the CEO said, voice faltering, and Peri’s eyes flicked up with knowledge of what was going to happen. He knew about drafters, and that was unacceptable. Jack would contain the information—whatever the cost.
The CEO’s eyes widened as Jack aimed the guard’s pistol at him. Peri watched, numb, as the older man lurched for the door, almost making it. The sound of the gun firing jerked through her. She gasped, the burst of air clearing her thoughts and sending her hand to her middle. Legs askew, she leaned against the desk as her lungs ached. She’d been shot in the original timeline, but that’s not why her chest hurt. They thought she was corrupt? She’d given Opti everything!
Jack vanished into the outer office. She could hear him dragging the suited man away, and still she sat. Stupid deserves to die,
Jack said in anger, and then he was back, avoiding her eyes in the dim light as he wiped her print from the top of the lintel. The gun was next, set carefully in the guard’s outstretched hand after he wiped it clean.
She looked up as Jack extended a hand for her to rise. Scared, she recoiled. She’d know if she was a dirty agent—wouldn’t she? Jack,
she whispered, wanting to believe there was another explanation. I’m not corrupt. He’s lying.
Jack dropped to kneel beside her, his arms enfolding her like a warm promise. Of course you aren’t, babe. That’s why I killed him. You’re safe. No one will know. I can fix this.
Shocked, she stared into his eyes as she felt time overlap and begin to mesh. For an instant she saw herself on the floor as she choked to death in the original timeline. The guard was standing, and the man in the suit watched it all as Jack held her head in his lap.
This is very bad for my asthma,
both she and her shadow-self whispered, one dying of confusion, the other just dying confused.
And then time mended and everything flashed the most beautiful red, scrubbing it away.
Peri pushed back, her heart pounding as her shoulder thudded against the leg of a desk. Jack was kneeling before her, and she looked at a door and the green light blinking on the locking panel. She was on the floor of a midnight-dark corner office. Her chin hurt, but the rest of her face was in agony. A bloody knife lay beside her, and a man in a security uniform twitched not three feet away, his life’s blood soaking the carpet.
It’s okay, Peri,
Jack soothed, and she scrambled to her feet before the blood could reach her, slowing when she realized everything hurt. It’s done.
I drafted, she thought, looking at her palm to see J IN OFFICE. She’d left him? Heart beating fast, she picked up her sticky knife, conscious of Jack’s sudden wariness. She’d left him but she’d made it back, obviously, and he would return her memory of the night’s events.
A security guard was dead. Her knife thrust had killed him—she recognized the entry wound as one she knew. A handheld radio hissed, and a Glock lay in the guard’s grip. She smelled gunpowder. They were in a high-rise, the thirtieth floor at least. It was night. They were on task. She’d drafted to rub out a mistake, and in doing so, had forgotten everything. Charlotte? she wondered, spotting the crown building out the window.
Did I die again?
she whispered.
Pretty close. We gotta go,
he said, and she winced when he touched her elbow. Her short-job bag was under his arm and she took it, feeling unreal.
Did we get what we came for? How long did I draft?
Peri asked, numb as she looked at the dead man. She only killed someone when they killed her first. Damn it all to hell, she hated it when she drafted.
Not long, and it’s in my phone.
Eyes pinched, Jack stuck his head out the door and looked around. The office beyond was quiet. What do you remember?
Less than I like. Wait.
Peri knelt beside the dead guard, cutting a button from his uniform with the knife still bloody from his own death. It wasn’t a trophy, but re-creating a memory would be easier with a talisman to focus it on: blood, the feel of the sticky blade, the scent of gunpowder, and the taste of . . . chocolate?
You made a reservation, right?
Jack asked, looking awkward in his concern. Did you write it down? I don’t know why you insist on keeping our post-task date a secret.
Because it’s fun to watch you squirm,
she said softly, still trying to find herself. He was overly anxious, wanting to move and keep moving, but as she glanced at the dead man, she didn’t wonder why. Pulse slow, she felt the new aches settle in, clueless as she looked out the huge windows at the dark city. What day is it?
she said, and heartache marred Jack’s handsome face as he realized how deep the damage was.
We’ll check your phone. I bet you wrote it down,
Jack said, avoiding her question as he took her elbow and carefully helped her through the secretary’s office and into a maze of low-partitioned cubicles. Do you remember where the elevators are? I have a lousy sense of direction.
I don’t remember the friggin’ task, Jack. What day is it!
she snapped, and he stopped.
Facing her, he gently turned her right hand up to show her a watch. She didn’t wear a watch. Ever. February the seventh. I’m sorry, Peri. It was a bad one.
Peri stared at the watch. It looked like something Jack might have given her—all black and chrome, having more functions than a PTA mom with twins, but she didn’t remember it. February?
The last she knew, it was late December. I lost six weeks! How long did I draft?
Emotion flashed over Jack, relief and then distress. Thirty seconds?
he said, putting a hand on the small of her back and getting her moving again. But you created a massive potential displacement. You were going to die. The guard? He was the one who did it.
And now she was alive instead of him. That was a lot of change to absorb. She was lucky she’d lost only six weeks in those thirty seconds. She’d once drafted forty-five seconds, but the changes made had been so small that she’d lost only the time her draft had created. There were rules, but so much impacted them that estimating time lost from time rewritten was chancy at best.
The car is outside,
Jack said as he led her through the dark to the elevators. Jack walked just a shade faster than she, falling into a well-practiced role of filling in the gaps in a way that wouldn’t make her feel stupid. If she didn’t move too fast, she could at least look as if she knew where they were going. There was an art to it, and they’d both had time to refine it. We fixed the camera on the south elevator, right?
he asked as he hit the down button.
His nervous chatter was starting to get to her, but it was because he was worried, so she bit back her sharp retort, not wanting to make Jack feel any worse. Her body ached from a beating she didn’t remember getting, and her face felt as if it was on fire. Dancing was out, but they could still play some pool, relax before they turned to the task of rebuilding her memory. It was a tradition that stretched back almost to their first meeting.
They stepped into the elevator together, and she jerked when Jack was suddenly there, his arms around her and his lips beside her ear. I’m sorry. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t your anchor. Seeing you get beaten up is hard enough, but being the only one to remember it is misery.
He pulled back, and they shared a weak smile. Peri steeled herself against the wave of emotion that washed over her. She could cry later. But she wouldn’t. Holding the world together while a new timeline formed was her job. Witnessing and rebuilding her memory was his job—and had been for the last three years.
She took a slow breath as the elevator halted with a cheerful ding. She would have written down their reservation. The night was not entirely ruined, and she would appreciate a good wine and the release that flirting with Jack would bring. What were we getting, anyway?
Immediately Jack relaxed. Remember that virus that Opti used to reinforce the United Nations’ pollution limits three years ago? It had an ugly stepsister,
he said. I’m sorry, Peri. At least you didn’t lose the summer.
A faint smile eased her worry, and she twined her fingers in his as they got out of the elevator. No, she hadn’t lost the summer, but if she had, she knew that she could’ve fallen in love with him all over again.
CHAPTER
THREE
The stairway was cramped, lit with tiny flashing lights and glittery with the hearts-and-roses banner someone had put up for next week’s Valentine’s Day party. Peri had to go up almost sideways in her heels, the music thumping through the walls seeming to push her up to the loft where the pool tables were. Jack was still downstairs talking on his phone to their handler, Bill, under the guise of arranging payment, and Peri stifled a surge of jealousy. Couldn’t they have even one moment of relaxation without Bill interfering?
But her frown shifted to a blank nothing as the memory of the guard surfaced, a hole in him the size of her knife. Quashing it, she continued upstairs, eager to push out the faint—and admittedly ridiculous—feeling that something was wrong.
This will help, she thought, pleased as she emerged onto the second floor and took in the six tables of masculinity replete with beer, wings, and camaraderie, liking the wide range of attire from jeans and plaid to suits and ties. It was the love of the game that brought them here and wiped out their differences like blue chalk in the wind, and she breathed in the faint scent of smoke that lingered in the green felt and relaxed.
But someone noticed her and jostled an elbow. Another cleared his throat, and soon everyone looked up, their gazes traveling over her in appreciation and lingering in question on her black eye and TSA-approved cue case instead of her curves. Three tables were open, but it was the one in the back corner that caught her eye. Sashaying to the supply rack, she took a finger towel and an old chalk.
Jack was just coming up when she turned, his smile wide as he noticed every eye on