“Come over,” a man’s voice answers. “I can hear your stomach from here.”
I walk carefully, using the wall for support. Hector stands in the kitchen next to a hot pan. He smiles at me. “Hungry?”
I take a moment to compose myself. “Yes, please. I’m Finn.”
“And I am Hector, the governor of this fine city.”
You’re Paul,I almost say.A murderer.
“What are you making?”
“My special omelet. You’ll love it. Even Caden can’t get enough.”
I tense at how casually he brings up Caden. I’m not sure how to respond, so I sit by the dining table and reach for a glass of water. Before I drink, I ask, “Did you drug this?”
He glances over. “That cup? Don’t think so.”
I’m too thirsty to question him, so I drink. He sings softly as he makes the food, a song that might be older than any living soul. I use the opportunity to scan my surroundings. The apartment is simple and well organized, with a clean and elegant style dominated by black-and-white colors. If this was the Hive, it would have been considered huge, but people used to build more spaciously when they weren’t confined by a mountain.
“Need something for the pain?” Hector asks from the kitchen.
“I’m okay.” I’d rather keep my head clear.
“Here you go.” He places a plate in front of me. The omelet smells good.
“Thank you.”
He sits on the other side of the table but doesn’t eat himself. I’m so damn hungry after days of near-starvation that I have to remind myself to chew before I swallow. He also added fresh bread and different types of cheese.
When my stomach grows calmer, I ask, “Why did you bring me here?”
“Do you have anywhere better to be?”
“No, but you brought me here for a reason.”
“And you came into my city for a reason.”
“I’m allowed to be here.”
“Because you’re a Raider?”
I hesitate. “Yes.”
“According to your old buddy, Clint, you weren’t a fan of being a Raider, so much so that you ended up causing the death of other fine Raiders.”
Everything I ate begins to swirl in my stomach. “How do you know about Clint?”
“I checked why you were arrested. I can’t help but notice you haven’t yet denied the accusation.”
I move uneasily in my seat. “I didn’t kill them directly, and I don’t want to talk about it.”
I let my refusal float between us as a test to Hector’s polite act. He surprises me by saying, “Old wounds—we all have them. Was it through your work with the Defenders that you met Caden?”
I look at my plate, my heart beating faster.
“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. After all, you and your Semi-Human friendsdidannounce you would be coming here for me.”
I don’t know what he means, but then I remember the iguana in the woods and River’s less-than-subtle threat. “I came here to check if Caden was okay, to try and save him.”
