Jared stands up. He has a solid few inches on Ken which is made more apparent as he steps closer to the sweaty man. Jared’s knuckles pop as he flexes them into fists. “You know, the report didn’t say anything about a bat being used.”
“In fact, only Jared, Nathaniel, and I saw the testing room. We only listed the equipment on the damage reports for insurance purposes—not how it was broken.” Kate stands next to Jared, effectively blocking Ken from the door. She’s not as physically imposing but nobody would ever think to cross her with the look burning out of her eyes.
Ken starts to speak but I cut him off as it all starts to makes sense. I remember what Julia told me. About overhearing Will and Ken talking that one day and then the cryptic comments he made to her.
“Someone else has access to that room,” I say as pieces fall into place. “And far as I know it’s just us three”—I gesture to Kate and Jared—“and the lab liaison.” I jab a finger at him.
I’m so mad he’s lucky I don’t take a swing. It’s not my style but a man can only take so much.
Ken starts to sputter an excuse, but Dylan doesn’t let him speak.
“The weird thing about all those test failings,” Dylan says as they and Febin join the team circling Ken. “They were always so random. No rhyme or reason, just a little off. Like somebody went in and physically changed the calibration. It’s the darnedest thing.”
A flush spreads up Ken’s neck. “Look at how she’s tricked you.”
“We aren’t the ones being played, Ken.” I keep my voice calm. “I just don’t understand what my father has on you.”
I feel the others still. Ken goes a little white. “What? Your father—”
“Did Will not tell you that when he convinced you to mess with Lite-Brite? What promises did he make to you to get you to ruin my livelihood? I can’t blame you. You aren’t the first victim of William Moore. After all, ‘where there’s a Will, there’s a way,’ right?”
Ken shakes his head. “No. Why would your father—”
“He doesn’t like when I get too big for my britches. When I try to take things that are his.” I glance to my friends by my side.
“We didn’t know, man. I’m sorry,” Jared says.
Kate is studying the ground and I think I have just confirmed suspicions she already had.
“I didn’t want people to know I was related to him,” I admit. “He’s evil and uses people to get what he wants. Whatever it takes. He’s a master manipulator. And now he’s got Julia.”
Ken’s face falls. “He—he told me she was evil. He showed me the footage of her attacking that guy. He made me believe she had powers. Sh-she’s dangerous.”
“Oh sure,” Dylan says. “She’s a regular superhero working here at our lab.”
“Yeah,” Kate adds. “I bet she can shoot webs from her wrist and fly around the planet in less than a minute.”
“No, you don’t understand. I saw it. On the tape.” But his brow is furrowing.
“You can’t trust anything you see these days,” I say coolly. “Will would say or do whatever to get you to do his bidding. You suggested messing with the tests, didn’t you? He made it seem like your idea?”
Ken’s eyes flicker back behind my head, replaying events through a new lens. He swallows audibly as he loosens his tie.
“I bet you didn’t want to break the equipment though, did you?” I soften my voice.
“It was too much.” His shaking hand wipes his forehead with a handkerchief pulled from his lapel. “All that wasted money. I couldn’t risk my career, but when I refused he brought up things. Things from a past life that I didn’t want to get out. You have to understand, I was just as much a victim as you all.”
The team is not amused by this.
“I shouldn’t have let her go with him.” I run my hands through my hair. Every second I’m here is another moment he could hurt her.
“Why go after her to get to you? Why not just frame you?” Jared asks.
I know the answer and my blood goes cold. Why go after her? What if this isn’t about me after all. He sent the goons after her. He knows about her powers. I’ve been so stupid.
“Because he knows—” I hesitate. “How much she means to me.”
“Well, go after her!” Kate gestures to the door.
“We’ll take care of Ken,” Jared says.
“I didn’t know,” Ken starts. His face is drained of color now.
I turn toward him one last time. “I vowed to be nothing like my father. You should be very thankful for that at this moment. If anything happens to Julia, I will break that vow.”
Ken swallows, eyes wide. The team behind me is silent.
“Well, I haven’t made any promises like that,” is the last thing I hear from Jared as I close the door and leave my friends to deal with Ken.
Now it’s time I dealt with my father once and for all.
