The director looks ready to sputter, but catches herself and just takes a long inhale through her nose. Then another.
And as she does, something seems to…soften in her expression.
In her everything.
Like she’s loosening up.
She breathes in again.
“I see,” Morgan says. “So this…protective carewould be…overkill?”
“In…so many words,” Jessie agrees. “We try to reserve it as a…last resort. Or for anyone brought in under a 5150, as needed.”
“Involuntarily, you mean?” Morgan asks. “Which Gwenna was…”
“Not,” Jessie confirms.
“Aha.” Morgan nods. “So if I’m understanding correctly, then…there’s nothing keeping Gwenna here?”
Everyone’s eyes turn to the director.
“I…yes,” she says, after a moment. “Yes, that is correct. Gwenna is an adult, and there are no legal or medical restrictions keeping her here. That said, we do like to confirm that she has a…stable environment waiting for her, as a matter of continuity of care.”
“Oh, I can assure you she does,” Morgan says crisply. “We’ve made sure of that.”
We’ve.She’s lying, obviously, or seriously embellishing the truth, speaking with the royal we just to appear legit, and still.
We’ve made sure of that.
The director nods. “Then it’s…up to Gwenna.”
It’s up to me.
I haven’t had a choice, arealchoice, in so long it feels intoxicating.
Go with Morgan. Stay here.
Go with Morgan. Stay here.
Go with Morgan?—
“I…want to go,” I say. “I want to leave.”
SIX
GWENNA
We ride in silence.
It’s a massive black SUV; Callahan’s at the wheel with Kai and Lanz in the middle row, me and Morgan all the way in back.
Kingston rides shotgun.
No one’s saying anything. Occasional murmurs between the guys, some low-voiced discussions I can’t really hear or make out, but no conversations. No words.
I didn’t have anything to pack, didn’t have any goodbyes to say besides the brief hug that Jessie gave me outside the director’s office. Just got my coat and boots and followed Morgan down the long and slushy driveway to the edge of the Renfrew campus where the car was idling, waiting for us.
Them. There. Of course. I half-wondered, half-suspected, really, that Morgan and the four of them must have traveled together, but seeing them again still hit like a cattle prod.
