“Not in the field,” Kate said, frustration evident in her voice. “We need lab equipment. But we’ve modified your sat phone to detect the EM signals. If they’ve set up a transmitter, it’ll register.”
“I’ll sweep the town tomorrow,” I said. “And check the local water facility.”
Ethan’s voice returned. “What’s your assessment of Evelyn Phillips and the child? Any signs they’ve been affected?”
I thought of Evelyn’s careful movements, the watchful way she’d scanned her surroundings earlier that day. Nothing seemed off about her behavior. She’d always been cautious. Vigilant.
“Negative. Behavior appears normal.” I paused, considering my next words carefully. “They don’t know I’m here yet.”
A beat of silence.
“Your call on contact,” Ethan finally said in a carefully neutral tone, but I’d known him long enough and could tell he didn’t approve. “You know the situation better than we do.”
I did know. Knew that showing up unannounced might scare Evelyn, might trigger her fight-or-flight response. Knew that Sophia might not even remember me after six months, or worse, might remember too well and give away my presence to others. Small towns talked. And we needed quiet for this.
“I’ll maintain distance for now,” I decided. “Less complicated.”
Kate snorted. “Yeah, because nothing says ‘uncomplicated’ like lurking in the rocks with thermal imaging equipment.”
I didn’t respond to that.
“Listen, Bricks.” Ethan’s tone stayed neutral, but again, I knew the man, and I wasn’t going to like what he had to say next. “Some of the team still has questions about the auction purchase. About whether Phillips might actually be involved.”
My hand tightened on the sat phone. “She’s not.”
“You sure about that? Her real name shows up on a black market weapons auction for mind control tech, and you don’t think that’s worth questioning?”
“I’m sure. Someone’s using her name as a message. A threat. She’s the target, not the buyer.”
“How can you be certain?”
Because I knew her. Because I’d spent two years watching her try to protect her daughter from a cult’s twisted plans. Because she’d run into the night without looking back when I’d offered her freedom. Because everything about Evelyn Phillips screamed survival, not conspiracy.
“I know her,” I said. “She wouldn’t touch this tech. Wouldn’t go anywhere near it.”
More silence on the line.
Then Ethan said, “Alright. But stay sharp. If you’re wrong?—”
“I’m not.”
Another pause. “The rest of the team is a day out if you need backup, but we’ve got a safehouse prepped in Missoula if extraction becomes necessary.”
Extraction.
Taking Evelyn and Sophia away from the life they’d built here, disrupting the fragile peace they’d found. I wasn’t ready to make that call.
Not yet.
“I’ll monitor for a few days,” I said. “If I detect either component of the NeuroLink system, I’ll reassess.”
“Understood,” Ethan replied. “Daily check-ins, same time. Immediate alert if situation changes.”
“Copy that.”
Ozzy’s voice returned, oddly hesitant for him. “Trent. The NeuroLink compound... it targets the limbic system first. Affects emotional centers before higher reasoning. If they’ve been exposed, you might see... attachment behaviors change first.”
My grip tightened on the satellite phone. “Meaning?”
