“And I bet that you hold certain triggers that will unlock info Badger holds, too.”
Feeling even more nauseous, Ken nodded again.
Badger looked from Ken to Duncan and back again. “Why can’t I have Duncan in the room wi’ us?” Badger asked. “If I’m the actin’ Pack Alpha, ain’t that my prerogative?”
Duncan and Ken both shook their heads but Ken spoke. “My orders are it’s for your ears only. What you do with certain items of information after our talk is up to you.”
“He’s siloed everything,” Duncan said, focusing on Badger. “Peyton, I mean. And rightfully so. If you’ll recall, it’s what I did with you and Charlie.” His jaw tensed. “And likely what Charlie did with you and Peyton, as well. And that’s another reason it should be you, Badger. Because it’s?—”
“Institutional knowledge,” Ken numbly said, recalling exactly what Peyton had dubbed it.
“Exactly,” Duncan grimly agreed, giving Ken’s shoulder a paternal squeeze before releasing him. “Much of it knowledge that might still be in your own brain, Badger. Also siloed. But I will sit outside the door and make sure you aren’t interrupted. Once you do whatever’s necessary, if either of you need to call me in, please do.”
“Because we need a Prime at the door to keep Dewi out,” Badger silently mouthed, and Ken and Duncan nodded.
Ken followed Badger inside while Duncan pulled the door closed behind them after Duncan gave Ken a final encouraging nod.
Badger cleared his throat. “Eh, I don’t know what we have to do, lad.”
“Let’s sit,” Ken suggested.
“Might take a while, aye?”
“Sure,” he said. “But more because I don’t really want to risk fainting in front of you again.”
Badger barked a soft laugh as Ken sank into one of the chairs in front of Peyton’s desk and shifted it so he faced Badger. Badger lowered his bulk into the other after turning it to face Ken, close enough that the two men could easily touch to silently communicate.
“What now?” Badger grimly asked.
Ken took a deep breath, held out his hand, and said, “You just need to listen with your Prime, and you’ll know what to do.”
When they both finally sat back, Ken felt close to puking.
It didn’t comfort him that Badger looked nearly as ill.
“Holy shite,” the shifter whispered. “Yeah, Duncan, Charlie, and Peyton gave me a bunch of that. The older stuff, obviously,” he continued. “But…” He shook his head. “Now I see why he set it up like this.”
Ken handed him the envelope marked JANUS. “I’m supposed to give this to you to read, too.”
Badger hesitated before his thick finger slipped under the envelope’s flap and he opened it, pulling out the index card.
Then a mask descended over Badger’s features. He slowly slipped the card back into the envelope and took a disquieting amount of time to meet Ken’s gaze.
“Do ye trust me, boyo?” he quietly asked.
Ken’s throat went dry. “Yeah,” he hoarsely said.
Badger heavily sighed. “I have certain…discretion,” he said. “And given the circumstances, I want to institute some insurance of my own.”
Ken nodded.
Badger held out his hand again. “Close yer eyes and just breathe. This won’t take long.”
Ken did.
When Ken opened his eyes, Duncan stood there with a small garbage can and a glass of water in his hand.
Ken grabbed the garbage can and immediately puked into it, although he wasn’t certain why. Fortunately, there was a plastic liner in the can.
