Page 105 of Storm Caller

“That I’d think about it. Maybe I can get more out of him if he thinks I’m interested.”

We both fall silent as a passenger ferry filled with people drifts past, laughter and conversation floating over the water. I wonder what they see when they look at us. Just another couple heading home after a night out.

No one can see the truth—that we could be the reason New Manhattan changes forever.

“You didn’t get anything from him about the cure?” I ask, and Rook shakes his head.

“No, but he mentioned Edward,” Rook says carefully. “I think.”

“What do you mean?”

“He made an offhand comment about holding Trinity’s ex, but then he stopped himself from saying more. I think he realized he’d said too much.”

“They have him?” I ask, dread curdling in my stomach. “Why would the Extinguishers have him?”

“I think he found something that night, Poet. Something he wasn’t supposed to see. It’s the only explanation for all of this.”

I nod, considering that. The thought has crossed my mind before.

“You’re sure Edward didn’t say anything before the Guard found you?” Rook asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing. He probably wanted to show me the video of Raine first.”

“We have to find him,” Rook says. “Not only for his safety but to find out what he might know. It could be related to the cure.”

I remember when the Circle Guard entered Mr. Robins’s office. How Edward dove for the keyboard and erased the screens. Was he trying to hide something else? I got him into trouble. He was knocked out, and then we left him. We didn’t have a choice, but it doesn’t make the guilt any easier to bear.

I shake my head. “Do you think he’s still . . . alive?” I whisper. “I’ll never forgive myself if he’s—” I can’t bring myself to finish the sentence. “He only agreed to help because I begged him.”

Rook’s expression is grim. “I can’t stop thinking about it, either. That’s why we owe it to him to look.”

“Where do you think they’d be keeping him?” I ask.

“My guess is the Citadel if Dire knows about it.”

The Citadel. Do we have to break in again?

A pained look passes over Rook’s face.

“What is it?”

“I just had a thought . . . an unpleasant one.”

I grimace. “Do I want to hear this?”

“What if he’s lying to them about what he saw, and what if they don’t believe him?”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure I’m following . . .”

“If Edward saw something that The Shield wants to keep a secret, a smart man would deny everything.”

“And?”

“They might try to torture the truth out of him.”

At first, I want to object, but in my gut, I know that Rook is right. After all the lies that we’ve been told, torturing an innocent man would mean nothing to The Shield. If anyone ever found out, they’d simply claim their actions were for our benefit.

And everyone would believe them.