“Just the two of you?” said Kory, peering into the vehicle. His gaze held questions about Rod and Amanda that needed to be answered.
“Lissa and the kids. Did they come through this morning?” Cam’s burning question slipped out first. At Kory’s nod, Cam said, “Then you’ll know about Rod. John Slains killed his sister, and Dave shot him. I don’t think the rest of Slains will be a problem again for quite some time. Shelby might rally some of the troops, but not right away. Amanda burned their house down for good measure.”
Kory said, “I’ll tell the captain to expect a full report. I’ll send you in now.”
Cam nodded. “I appreciate that.” He needed to hold Lissa and sleep for two days straight, but he wasn’t quite finished with his duty. “Did Lissa mention Eli Blake?”
Kory nodded. “Things are already in motion for his arrest. I’ll message the gate tower. They’ll call Lissa so she can meet you.” He patted the hood of the truck and sent Cam up the road.
***
In the days since Cam’s return, the Watch and Council had been busy. With Dolores in their crosshairs, Cam had removed himself from the strategy sessions. He might not like his mother, but he didn’t want to be part of entrapping her either. Heglanced around the crowded Gathering Hall, where most of the adults had assembled for Eli Blake’s public hearing. The table had been placed at the front for xTerra’s councillors, while another was below with three chairs. They would question Blake about his role in diverting supplies to pay the Slains.
Cam took Lissa’s hand, and she shot him a half smile as the Council members filed in and took their seats. He glanced across the aisle to his brothers, who gave him a nod hello. He hadn’t talked to them about Dolores, but they understood she should be held accountable for her actions.
Kory and Captain Wilson escorted Blake in handcuffs to the middle chair facing xTerra’s leaders. Cam felt a prickle on the back of his neck and pivoted, disguising his move as fidgeting. His mother sat a few rows behind, glaring. He turned back without speaking. If the hearing went as planned, he and Dolores wouldn’t make peace. She’d torched that bridge and watched it burn. Lissa squeezed his hand, and Cam refocused his attention, hoping Mayor Winter’s plan worked.
Kory unlocked Blake’s cuffs and sat beside him, a microphone aimed at Eli. Captain Wilson joined the councillors on the dais at the front. He whispered in Kat’s ear, shook hands with the others, and then hopped down, returning to the doors. He closed them and stationed himself in front, his arms crossed.
“Let’s call this meeting to order,” said Mayor Winters. The low buzz of chatter stopped as the citizens of xTerra fell silent. While the mayor was normally a friendly and cheerful man with a ready smile, today, he was somber. “This will be a closed meeting until it concludes. Anyone who needs to leave, this is your last chance until proceedings are complete.” His gaze swept the room. Someone coughed, but nobody moved.
He cleared his throat. “Eli Blake, you have been charged with treason against xTerra. It has been alleged that you siphoned off supplies from the community warehouse where you workand arranged for their transport off our property. The Slains collected the crates as bribes for their goodwill. You did this many times over the last five years. How do you plead?”
“I moved the shit.” Blake shrugged. “Guilty as hell. But I was just following orders.”
Whispers erupted throughout the room. Unlike Cam, the news about the rediscovered crates would be new for most people of xTerra as the Watch had kept their discovery under wraps.
The mayor waited until the buzz of noises subsided. “Why were you chosen?”
Blake leaned forward. “John Slains and I went to high school together. I brokered an introduction, and he trusted me. At least as much as he trusted anyone. So, a little, as long as he benefitted.”
Kat Griffiths leaned forward. “Whose orders?”
“If I say, will I be punished?” Blake’s sideways glance seemed shifty.
Mayor Winters leaned in, his voice amplified and clear. “Everyone involved will be punished according to the severity of their involvement. The leader or mastermind behind these traitorous acts will receive the most severe punishment. His gaze remained focused on Eli Blake.
It was all Cam could do not to turn around to gauge Dolores’ reaction.
“Please continue, Mr. Blake,” said Kat.
“Well, it started about five years ago. We had all these empty bunkers, and my brother, who worked in the Administration office, was asked to override the entrance codes the original owners may have set up. This was when we were centralizing supplies from the empty bunkers. He followed orders and set up new codes.”
“Who had access to the new codes?” said Mayor Winters.
“Just the mayor. The old mayor, Ms. Montgomery.”
Another ripple of whispers spread across the room. Dolores might be feeling the heat.
“What did you do with these codes, Mr. Blake?”
“Well, at first, the former mayor asked us to set aside some supplies, rather than adding them to the community storehouse.”
“Did she explain why?” Mayor Winters’ voice carried over the dead silent room.
“Course. She said there might come a day when xTerra might have to buy its way free of trouble. That she’d ensure everything would be set aside for the future. Like a savings account.”
“So, you and your brother were ordered to hide supplies. Can you describe what?”
