Page 281 of Broken Oath

Metal table.

Metal chair.

Camera in the corner.

Drain in the floor.

Same room.

Different atmosphere.

The guards looked uncomfortable.

The interrogator looked exhausted.

Wade recognized him immediately.

The same frightened man from the day before.

The man who had shown him photographs of Sarah, Rook, and the Alaskan warehouse.

The man who finally understood that the mountain might not protect him.

A file struck the table.

Hard.

The interrogator stared at Wade.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Then the interrogator laughed.

A low, empty sound.

“They found the mountain.”

Wade remained silent.

“They actually found it.”

The man shoved both hands through his hair.

“You have no idea what you’ve done.”

Wade slowly raised his eyes.

The interrogator stopped moving.

Five years ago, Wade’s silence had been defiance.

A refusal to surrender.

Today, something else lived behind it.

Hope.

The interrogator saw it.