ony

the cool leather of the back seat. The interior was dark,

in Rex Foster. His face was all sharp angles and m

low baritone. "A new development r

my temples, a familiar gesture to ward off the headache that always followed

ghtened. "There's been a data breac

ok a long drink. The water was tasteles

ked on an outgoing transmission for 0.0

already shifting gears, leaving the petty drama of the restaurant behind. Then I

hy are we going to the mano

ecure all your personal research materials before moving

uly mine, also served as a remote, low-security workstation. My ol

es of the Welch manor. They stopped in a practiced, tactical formation, boxing us in. Several men

protocol. This was a hig

walked toward the heavy oak door

yes widened at the sight of the men and vehicles. "M

swept past him and

r phone pressed to her ear. She saw me and stood up abru

he phone onto the cushions. "Do you have any idea the call I jus

er pearl earring, a nervous habit when her

and a flicker of triumph crossed her face before being replaced by a mask of concern.

e. "Why should I apologize? For not begging

u shameless creature! You've dragg

s study, his face a canvas of disappoint

sharp and cold: me, eight years old, burning with fever, watc

presence was a physical force, sucking the warmth and air out of

nod. "Ma'am, we nee

rrifying understanding dawned on her face. It was the wrong un

Her voice rose with a kind of manic glee. "Is that it? Did she finally get cau

er mouth with her hand. "

ecurity clearance was a muzzle

of it was just... exhausting. I gestured toward

iately moved pas

ure of horror and vindication. This scene, so much like a p

eous venom. "Take her! Lock her away for years! Teach he

e. He ignored her completel

faint, bitter urge to correct her flitted through my mind, but I swallowed the words do

rs. Two agents came down. The lead agent nodde

a short nod and steppe

ef-filled sneer: "Stop putting on an act here! Officers, take he

are my family a single backward glance. Every w

ul gesture. I stepped forward, out of the suffocating

a grating, chaotic chorus. The sound lingered for only a second before the door swung shut

e black sheep of the family, the source of their shame,

t all almost pulled a