Boone’s fingers flew. Red indicators bloomed across the map—not locations.
Moments.
Intervals.
Patterns.
“There,” Russ said. “That cluster—those spikes aren’t system errors.”
“No,” I said quietly. “They’re reactions.”
Scout wasn’t screaming.
She wasenduring.
And Sentinel was punishing the silence.
My jaw tightened.
“She’s buying time with herself,” I said. “And he’s trying to make it too expensive.”
Boone swallowed. “Logan… if we wait—”
“I know,” I said.
Because waiting was the wrong instinct here.
But charging in was worse.
I closed my eyes for half a second—not to pray.
To listen. I knew how Sentinel worked.
Scout Fallon had already told me how to move.
Not loud.
Not fast.
Inside the rhythm.
“He’s using live bait,” I said again. “Which means two things.”
Russ leaned in. “Which are?”
“One: Scout is still thinking,” I said. “And two—Sentinel won’t kill anyone yet.”
Boone frowned. “Why not?”
“Because death ends leverage,” I replied. “And Sentinel doesn’t burn leverage until he’s sure I’m watching.”
I opened my eyes and met their gazes.
“So we give him what he wants.”
They stared at me.
“Not panic,” I clarified. “Presence.”
