Sage shoved her dirty clothes into her bag and put her purse in there, too. She went out to the living room.
Canyon looked up and smiled at her. “Hey, foxy,” he said.
Timber fist-bumped Canyon. “Morning,” he said to Sage.
“Who are you talking about?” she asked. “Who’s in custody?”
Canyon swiveled the tablet so she could see. It was Rhogun Van Crimson! He sat on a metal bed in what was clearly a police cell, wearing a prisoner jumpsuit, his eyes closed, his hands folded, his face serene. He was a well-respected member of the Van Crimson clan, always willing to help, always first to get his hands dirty.
Sage put a hand to her mouth and studied the screen.
“He saved our lives,” Timber said. “We owe him.”
Canyon nodded. “He told us how to get out of the hole.”
Sage couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He told you what exactly?”
“APHOX,” Timber said.
Sage sat on the edge of the couch, feeling suddenly weak. Rhogun had given them the code to the elevator? “Did… did somebody torture him?” she whispered.
Timber’s mouth fell open.
Canyon’s eyes went wide.“Torture?”
“I mean… not either one of you… but…” She shook her head, backpedaling, wanting to justify what she’d said—she’d heard stories… there was family legend—but Canyon and Timber looked genuinely shocked and appalled.
Maybe the vod weren’t the only ones who would have to change their ways and eat their words.
“Sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry. I ah… I can’t understand why he would tell you that. That’s… that’s a secret. It’s afoxensecret he’s forbidden to tell anyvod.”
Timber and Canyon looked at each other.
Timber stood. “Let’s ask him.”
***
Sage sat in the back seat of Canyon’s truck in the upper parking lot of the Serenity Police Department, scarcely able to believe she was there. The plan was either to sneak her in, or to sneak Rhogun out. Timber was inside, scouting. Canyon was in the driver’s seat, and the robot was in back with her, showing images of inside on its screen.
She’d never been this close to the police station before. She watched the comings and goings ofvodand humans with wonder. In the front seat, Canyon twisted to watch the screen on the images on the robot’s screen, while Sage glanced at them occasionally. There were views of several hallways, plus thecellblock with Rhogun sitting calmly on a bunk, and one more of Timber talking to Sergeant Rockford at the big desk near the front door. Sage went back to watching twovodwith guns on their hips talk to a human couple near the front steps of the building.
“Here he comes,” Canyon said.
Timber strode their way, looking excited. He got into the passenger seat and the moment his door was shut he turned to them and said, “Crazy shit, going on. Guess who bit Eventine.”
Canyon’s eyebrows raised. “Bit Eventine? Better’ve been Harlan.”
“Conri,” Timber said.
Sage gasped. That didn’t sound like the Conri she knew.
“Holy sheeeit,” Canyon said. “Is he alive?”
“Harlan kicked the crap out of him but he’s still alive.” Timber looked pointedly at Sage. “Guess who hethoughthe was biting.”
Sage pointed at herself, suddenly panicked. Timber nodded. Sage blew out a breath. It was confession time again. “Uh, uh…” she stammered, not knowing what to say. “I dated Conri,” she forced out quickly, her eyes on Canyon. Timber reacted with a noise that Sage couldn’t tell what it meant, but she didn’t look at him. She stared into Canyon’s eyes, watching his reaction.
“Not for long,” she said. “Just, you know, we went on a couple dates. We met at Mugshots and he asked me and I said yes and we… it… we’re just friends now.”
