arrested someone?”
Purdy smiles. “We’re always watching, Sheriff.”
Of course they are—if the government is working with the Mogs out here, then they’re likely monitoringall sorts of communications. I was probably scanned or filmed the entire time I was out by the fence, even if I didn’t see any cameras.
So much for being careful. Again I remind myself that I should be back at Yellowhammer, safely behind a computer screen.
The deputy and sheriff have a heated, quiet conversation at the front of the room. Purdy walks over to me. He pulls back his jacket and flashes a heavy-looking pistol at me before crossing his arms over his chest.
“Now, why don’t you play ball and start by telling me your name?” he asks.
“Sir,” the other man—special agent?—says.
Purdy turns and finds his partner holding up the bag with my blaster in it. He nods, and the man pockets it. Then Purdy lets out a whistle and turns his attention back to me. When he leans in close, I can smell stale coffee on his breath, and something else. Something rancid.
“Powerful little weapon you had on you,” he says. “Where’d you get it?”
I don’t say anything. He doesn’t seem to mind.
“Thanks for picking her up, boys,” Purdy says, motioning to the sheriff. “But I’m officially taking over this investigation.” He smiles at me. “You and I are going to have a long conversation back at the base.”
“What are you talking about?” the sheriff asks. “Thatwoman’s our suspect, and if you think—”
“You can argue with me all you want, but I believe this woman may have information about acts of terrorism planned against this country. And if you think that means the government is going to let her stay in the hands of this Podunk police force, you’re delusional.”
I can practically hear the glee dripping off Purdy’s words as he pulls rank on the others. The sheriff sneers, but he doesn’t say anything. Still, his hand is on his hip, close to his gun. The other agent puffs out his chests and walks over to the officers.
I silently panic. I can’t go back to that base. Not as a prisoner. Not if the Mogs are involved there. They’ll figure out I’m Loric somehow and use me, destroy me, like they did Janus.
I know too much. About Ella and Crayton. About the white tablet. They can’t get into my head. And I don’t know if I’m strong enough to withstand whatever torture it is they used to make Janus spill all his secrets.
I have to escape. I’ve tried not to hurt any of the people on this planet—they’re just caught in the cross fire of all this. But I don’t think Purdy counts. If he’s working at the base, he’s working with the Mogs. I don’t mind hurting him; in fact, I think I’d take great pleasure in it.
He leans close again. “Hope you enjoy your last few minutes of fresh air. Because if you don’t startcooperating, I’ll see to it that you never set foot aboveground again.”
I’ve got one chance.
“This is for Zophie,” I mutter.
And then I attempt a desperate escape.
CHAPTER FIVE
MY BOOT CONNECTS WITH PURDY’S STOMACH. AS he reels back, I slip off the chair, crouch as much as I can and then leap forward, pulling hard against the cuffs. The square drawer of the filing cabinet jerks out behind me. The cuff digs into my flesh as the drawer catches, but I continue in one fluid motion, pulling at the metal with both my hands. It’s my greatest luck in life that the drawer is full of coffee supplies and not actual files; I’m able to pull it out. It swings over my head in a sprawling arc, threatening to tear my hand from my body.
There’s a loud metallic bang as the edge of the drawer smashes against Purdy’s face. Suddenly blood is everywhere.
“My nose!” Purdy gropes blindly at the desk behind him. “She broke my fucking nose!”
He half collapses into a rolling chair. The other agenthas my blaster, so I lunge for Purdy’s gun and then slide over the tile flooring,
Purdy smiles. “We’re always watching, Sheriff.”
Of course they are—if the government is working with the Mogs out here, then they’re likely monitoringall sorts of communications. I was probably scanned or filmed the entire time I was out by the fence, even if I didn’t see any cameras.
So much for being careful. Again I remind myself that I should be back at Yellowhammer, safely behind a computer screen.
The deputy and sheriff have a heated, quiet conversation at the front of the room. Purdy walks over to me. He pulls back his jacket and flashes a heavy-looking pistol at me before crossing his arms over his chest.
“Now, why don’t you play ball and start by telling me your name?” he asks.
“Sir,” the other man—special agent?—says.
Purdy turns and finds his partner holding up the bag with my blaster in it. He nods, and the man pockets it. Then Purdy lets out a whistle and turns his attention back to me. When he leans in close, I can smell stale coffee on his breath, and something else. Something rancid.
“Powerful little weapon you had on you,” he says. “Where’d you get it?”
I don’t say anything. He doesn’t seem to mind.
“Thanks for picking her up, boys,” Purdy says, motioning to the sheriff. “But I’m officially taking over this investigation.” He smiles at me. “You and I are going to have a long conversation back at the base.”
“What are you talking about?” the sheriff asks. “Thatwoman’s our suspect, and if you think—”
“You can argue with me all you want, but I believe this woman may have information about acts of terrorism planned against this country. And if you think that means the government is going to let her stay in the hands of this Podunk police force, you’re delusional.”
I can practically hear the glee dripping off Purdy’s words as he pulls rank on the others. The sheriff sneers, but he doesn’t say anything. Still, his hand is on his hip, close to his gun. The other agent puffs out his chests and walks over to the officers.
I silently panic. I can’t go back to that base. Not as a prisoner. Not if the Mogs are involved there. They’ll figure out I’m Loric somehow and use me, destroy me, like they did Janus.
I know too much. About Ella and Crayton. About the white tablet. They can’t get into my head. And I don’t know if I’m strong enough to withstand whatever torture it is they used to make Janus spill all his secrets.
I have to escape. I’ve tried not to hurt any of the people on this planet—they’re just caught in the cross fire of all this. But I don’t think Purdy counts. If he’s working at the base, he’s working with the Mogs. I don’t mind hurting him; in fact, I think I’d take great pleasure in it.
He leans close again. “Hope you enjoy your last few minutes of fresh air. Because if you don’t startcooperating, I’ll see to it that you never set foot aboveground again.”
I’ve got one chance.
“This is for Zophie,” I mutter.
And then I attempt a desperate escape.
CHAPTER FIVE
MY BOOT CONNECTS WITH PURDY’S STOMACH. AS he reels back, I slip off the chair, crouch as much as I can and then leap forward, pulling hard against the cuffs. The square drawer of the filing cabinet jerks out behind me. The cuff digs into my flesh as the drawer catches, but I continue in one fluid motion, pulling at the metal with both my hands. It’s my greatest luck in life that the drawer is full of coffee supplies and not actual files; I’m able to pull it out. It swings over my head in a sprawling arc, threatening to tear my hand from my body.
There’s a loud metallic bang as the edge of the drawer smashes against Purdy’s face. Suddenly blood is everywhere.
“My nose!” Purdy gropes blindly at the desk behind him. “She broke my fucking nose!”
He half collapses into a rolling chair. The other agenthas my blaster, so I lunge for Purdy’s gun and then slide over the tile flooring,
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