“Well, I know the Carvers are still fine-tuning the design of their antibiotic compound, and I don’t think they’ve yet started testing amounts of genetic material for infection. But I suspect they will be ready to start making lists of potential volunteers.”
I could practically feel Davey’s ears perk up, and I avoided looking at her. She wouldn’t understand, because she didn’twantto understand, that this was still in very early stages. They were nowhere near ready for actually injecting those volunteers. This wasn’t safe yet. Faythe’s plan was likelyyearsfrom actually being put into action.
All of that would have to be a private conversation between me and my sister after, Faythe had left.
“I think he’s, um,poopy,” Davey called from across the room.
“Oh, here.” Faythe popped up from the booth and was halfway across the floor before I’d even rotated my legs toward the open end of the booth. “Let me—”
“Oh, no, I got it.” Davey stood, holding the toddler and leather bag.
Faythe glanced at her in surprise. “Have you ever changed a diaper?”
Davey shrugged. “How hard can it be? This girl in my high school got pregnant at fourteen, and she managed.”
Faythe laughed. “Well, I’m not gonna turn that down. There are diapers and wipes in the inner pocket,” she added, waving one hand at the bag already looped over my sister’s shoulder.
“You can use my office,” I said. “Notthe kitchen.” I was pretty sure there was some county health ordinance about diapers in food prep areas.
Vance took the bag from Davey. “I’ll give you a hand.” They disappeared through the swinging doors into the kitchen, and Vic went with them, no doubt to keep a protective eye on the inexperienced babysitters.
Faythe smiled as she turned to me. “They make such a cute couple.”
“Who?” I blinked at her, confused as she stared at the swinging kitchen door. My focus had already returned to the possibilities for the future of women in the Pride. Formy placein that world.
“Your sister and your enforcer,” she said.
“Davey and Vance?” I laughed. “Oh, no, they’re not—” A screeching sound echoed in my ears, like a siren going off from far away, and distantly, I realized no one else could hear it. “I mean they’re not a—”
My head shook, back and forth, back and forth, and I couldn’t make it stop.
I wouldknowif they were—
“He looks out for her because I asked him to. I moved Davey into the apartment next to his, specifically for that purpose. But they’re not—”
Vance lived in the apartment next to my sister’s. WhereIhad put her. An apartment he’d cleaned from top to bottom with bleach, the very day he knew I would be searching it.
Bleach, which could kill any trace of my sister’s scent.
Oh my God. How had I never seen it?
If their connection was obvious enough for Faythe to notice the moment she saw them together, how had Inotknown? How long had it been going on?
“I hope I didn’t step in something.” Faythe stood, tugging her blouse into place. Straightening her slacks. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know. Vance seems like a good guy.”
“The best,” I confirmed, my voice hollow with shock.
“Like someone you trust.”
“More than anything. With my life. With my sister’s life.” My words sounded like they were coming from the other end of a long tunnel.
The kitchen door swung open. Davey reappeared with the toddler on her hip, and Vance came in behind her carrying Faythe’s bag. My sister returned the toddler to his mother, then she scooped up all the toys from the floor and dropped them into the bag.
“Charley, it’s been such a pleasure,” Faythe said as Wilder tugged at her hair, chanting what sounded like a nursery rhyme into her ear. “You’ll be hearing from me very soon, and likely fairly often. I have your phone number. I’ll text you so you’ll have mine.”
“That sounds good. Thank you so much for bringing this to me. I’m very excited for what this is going to do for the Pride.” But the words felt like mush in my mouth. Tasteless. Formless. I wasn’t even truly aware of what I was saying. As absorbed as I’d been moments ago by this new mission, suddenly I could think of nothing but my sister and my best friend. The two people I had trusted most in the world.
Until that moment.
