“What about Logan?”
“You should know better than me. He’s in protective custody by order of the Committee.”
Jacy stepped toward me, balling his hands into tight fists. I feared he would strike me.
Instead, he uncurled his hands and tapped his fingers against his thighs. He looked at Sloan. “Last try?”
“Don’t bother. She doesn’t believe you, boss. We don’t need her. She can stay in the Pit until we have the situation under control,” Sloan said.
The Pit? That didn’t sound good.
“I would, except we do need her. Go.” Jacy cleared a spot off the work table and sat down.
“Is he bringing food and water?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“No. But if this doesn’t work, I’ll make sure you’re fed.”
“Nice of you,” I said with a flat tone. “Since we’re having this lovely chat, did someone rescue Doctor Lamont?”
“Yes. Bubba Boom, Hank, and a bunch of the maintenance workers have been searching for you ever since, causing us trouble. That’s why it took so long to get back here.”
“Too bad.” Sarcasm laced my words. And when the silence lengthened, I asked about the Pit.
Before he could reply, the door opened. I braced for their “last try” by clamping my lips tight. But when Riley stood there with Sloan, a little yelp of surprise escaped me.
Riley turned on Jacy. “What’s this?” He gestured toward me. “You said you were going totalkto her. Let her go. Now!”
Not what I had been expecting. Maybe Riley’s anger was part of the ruse.
“She thinks we’re the saboteurs,” Jacy replied mildly. “How was I supposed to get her to sit down with me for a nice conversation?”
I noted the use ofwe’re. Nausea rose in my empty stomach.
“That’s why I wanted to be the one to convince her,” Riley said.
“You’re needed elsewhere. We’re running out of time.” Jacy jumped to his feet. “This has been a total waste of precious time. Sloan, take her to the Pit. We’ll manage without her. Riley, are the wires in place?”
“Not yet.”
“Then go. Get it done. They’re already attached to us. Sloan will deal with Trella.”
Riley didn’t move. He met my gaze. “Did Logan find a way around the Outsiders?” he asked.
I might not trust Jacy, but despite Riley’s belief, I did trust him. I should have trusted him with the bomb, and I should have tried to figure out what he’d been doing all these weeks. But my own hurt feelings had kept me away from him. Now though, if Riley thought Jacy’s gang was doing the right thing, then I had no qualms. “No. Not yet. We think we have one last chance, but it would require a coordinated effort from a bunch of people.”
Jacy and Riley exchanged a look.
“I have the manpower,” Jacy said. “We can combine our efforts.”
That last bit sounded like a question. “I thought your sources dried up when you joined the Committee.”
“Things have changed.”
Riley knelt in front of me. “Will you help us, Trell?”
Looking into his eyes, seeing the concern on his face, I couldn’t resist him. “Yes.”
Free at last, I stood and rubbed feeling back into my muscles.
