I nod, falling into step beside him as we move to the truck. The engine roars, and I lean my head on the window. Every few seconds, I feel his eyes land on me. It makes my stomach toss, and I resist the urge to look at him.
My hand curls into my pocket, seeking warmth, until a scrap of paper crinkles beneath my fingertips.
Prue’s letter.
Once I’m alone, I’ll see what she wants.
chapter
twenty-five
Haven
I’m in one of the interrogation rooms.
Bare concrete walls enclose me in a chilly embrace. A single metal table sits in the center, scarred with scratches and dents, and flecks of dried blood cling to its edges. I sit on a hard, unyielding chair that is bolted straight to the floor.
Ender stands against the wall, and across from me sits a man I recognize. He visited my father once, though his name and exact role escapes me. His white hair is cropped short, and cobalt-blue eyes pierce straight through me.
“Sit, Warrick,” Ender says.
The man leans forward in his chair. The lamp above us throws harsh light across my face, making my skin sting.
This is not going to be a fun, light-hearted conversation.
“This is Colonel Ansel,” he says. “He reports to your father.”
“Pleased to meet you,” I say, turning the light away from my face.
This is a bit too intense for a post-mission breakdown.
“We’re putting together a briefing report,” Ansel says. “We’d like your perspective on what occurred during the mission.”
“I share the same account as the others.” I shrug. “I mean, we were all there.”
“Aric has a line about you in his report,” Ender says. He lifts his tablet to read. “In his words, he says, ‘She is shady as shit. I don’t trust her one bit. She’s with the rebels, I know it.’
“What an eloquent observation,” I say dryly. I fold my arms on the table, leaning forward. “Look, Aric has it in for me. He’s a small-dicked bastard who gets off on bullying girls. Is this comment really a surprise?”
Ansel clears his throat.
“Let us keep the foul words to a minimum,” Ender says. “We just want your statement.”
“Fine, here it is. Aric is the one working with the rebels,” I say. “It’s obviou?—”
“We don’t want another he-said, she-said,” Ender says impatiently. “Just tell us what happened without mentioning Aric.”
I release a sharp breath, annoyed by this entire conversation. It’s fine when Aric badmouths me, but when I return the favor, they get exasperated.
I repeat what happened. Everything Ender witnessed himself. He’s just a very suspicious individual. He must have some deep-rooted trust issues.
“Now tell us about the Transporter,” Ender says slowly. “What happened?”
“You shot her, I went to punch her, and she fled.”
Ansel’s pen stills on his tablet screen.
“Fled how?” he asks calmly.
