Page 148 of Storm Caller

Mowry starts struggling in a futile effort to free himself. Sweat has broken out on his forehead, and his eyes roll with panic.

“Help him!” I say. “He’s freaking out.”

“He’ll be fine,” Henry says. “We won’t hurt him, and it will take time to get him out regardless. Until then, he’ll be safe here.”

“They’ll find me!” he shouts. “They will!”

“Then you need to work with us,” Ada says. “Help Edward access the research. The sooner we get our hands on it, the sooner we can get you to safety.”

“What will you do with it?” he asks. “They’ll kill you if you tell anyone.”

She nods and lays a soft hand on Dr. Mowry’s shoulder. I hate the way they’re treating this poor man, but I also understand it.

We need him if we have any hope of getting our hands on that cure.

“You just let us worry about that.”

53

Dr. Mowry is taken to another room. He fights it at first, but eventually, his head drops and he goes along quietly. I can barely stand to look at the utter defeat on his face.

“He’s been a prisoner for years,” I say. “And now . . .”

“It won’t be forever,” Ada says. “But we can’t release him yet. It’s too risky. He could run to The Shield and tell them about the Fog. Then all of this has been for nothing.”

“But they’re the ones who locked him up,” I argue. “Why would he do that?”

“We can’t assume anything he said is true, Poet.” Ada’s smile is gentle. “You are young, and you still believe people are inherently good. And while that is a wonderful quality to possess, we haven’t lasted this long by accepting anything at face value.”

“You think he’s lying?”

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think he’s lying, but we must confirm his story. Trust but verify.”

“Poet,” Henry says. “Don’t worry. We won’t let anything happen to him, okay?”

“I know you won’t. I’m just . . . I’m out of sorts.”

“We heard about Rook,” he says. “I’m so sorry.”

“He’s innocent,” I say, reading the question in their expressions. “He didn’t kill anyone. They’re lying. We were in the Veil when several of those murders happened.”

I haven’t told them what my father said—or didn’t say—but it’s just a hunch, and I’m not sure they’ll believe me. If I tell them now, they’ll think I’m just trying to protect Rook.

Henry runs a hand down his face, clearing away the skepticism in his eyes. “You’re right,” he says. “I’m sorry. None of that sounds like Rook.”

“Sol was there yesterday,” I say. “She was screaming at her Guards to arrest him.”

“She was?” Henry asks. “That’s . . . troubling.”

“But then she sent me a message telling me she had a plan and everything would be fine.”

Ada sighs and folds her arms across her chest. “I don’t think we should assume anything either way,” she answers. “Sol might be compromised. Or she could be telling you the truth, and she really does have a plan.”

I huff. “Or she was lying to us all along. Just like you said.”

She tips her head, offering me a sympathetic look. “Dr. Mowry’s story corroborates a lot of what she claimed, so there must have been some truth to it.”

“I suppose, but until we know for sure, we have to find him,” I say. “He’s hiding somewhere.”