Page 51 of The Circle

“The girl’s mother. Eliza Watson. She must come as well.”

A beat. Then… “One moment, please.”

And now he puts me on mute. The only sound I hear while we wait is the faint moaning of the two doped-up laaities in the corner.

After several seconds, he comes back on the line. “That will be acceptable.”

Eliza takes what appears to be the first breath she’s taken in a week.

“And I should add,” he continues, “that if you attempt to bring anyone else, alert anyone else, or if any of Ms. Watson’s other brothers attempt to come of their own volition”—I look at Russell and the twins—“it will end badly.”

“Understood,” I concede.

“Very well,” he says. “And, on a personal note, we would just like to say… we’re sure this has been a trying time. It will be over soon.”

I don’t know if that’s intended to make me feel comforted. If so, it’s currently having the opposite effect.

When I don’t say anything, he goes on, “While there is no prescribed schedule, we would like to attend to things as swiftly as possible—as we’re sure you would also prefer—so, we advise getting started as soon as you arrive back at your hotel. Oh, there will also be a doctor there to attend to your wound before you begin your journey. We want to ensure it’s properly cared for.”

At this point, I’m becoming numbed to the shock of hearing that these people know things they shouldn’t know and have the breadth of power they clearly possess, so instead of asking questions to which I won’t get answers anyway, I just say, “Thanks.”

“With pleasure,” he says. “And Ms. Keene?”

Christine stares at the phone, holding her tongue.

“We’re particularly looking forward to seeing you again. We have questions.”

I continue working to keep any kind of shock or panic from my gaze. The terrified glint in Christine’s eyes is enough for us all.