* * *
Paul marchedhim through the door into the flat, telling his two fellow HRU members to wait outside.
Isaac looked around, more than a little surprised that he’d ended up here and not in an interrogation cell. “Got to say I wasn’t expecting an interrogation cell to look so... homey.”
Paul rolled his eyes. “You know as well as I do that we have to follow protocol. We need approval from the Shifter Council to interrogate an alpha.”
Isaac raised his eyebrows because he was pretty sure Simon was picking and choosing which protocols he followed at the minute. He opened his mouth to say as much, but Paul gave the tiniest shake of his head.
Pointing up at the corners of the room, he said, “There are cameras in the living area and the kitchen. We can see and hear you at all times in here. There are none in the bathroom or bedroom, but there are also no windows either, so escape is impossible. Access to this floor and this room is by key card only.”
Isaac snorted. “And who has access to this key card?”
“The HRU.”
Wonderful.
Paul took his arm and tugged. When Isaac didn’t move, he glared at him. “As an alpha, it’s also protocol to make sure you’re comfortable, so please let me show you around the flat.” The words sounded forced, like it was the last thing Paul wanted to be doing, but Isaac really wanted to be alone, so he let himself be towed into the small hallway and then into the bathroom.
Paul eased the door closed behind them, then whirled around to face Isaac. “I have about thirty seconds before this looks suspicious, so just listen. Simon has bypassed Baker and is seeking to get permission from the council to interrogate you. As in a full-on traitor interrogation.”
“On what fucking grounds?” Isaac hissed.
“I don’t know. But I do know that he’s just brought Logan’s parents into interrogation room one, so someone on that council is authorising shit for him without Baker’s knowledge.”
Isaac stared at him.
Too many questions ran through his head for him to form words.
What the Goddess’s name was Simon planning? Who on the council was helping him? And why the fuck was Paul telling him any of this?
Before he could ask any of them, Paul hissed. “If he gets approval, and I have no doubt that he will, then you need to know what he’s capable of.” He opened the bathroom door and said loudly, “The bedroom is also soundproofed, but no one will be in here with you so it shouldn’t matter.” He pushed Isaac through the bedroom door and closed it quietly. “We have serums in the HRU that I’ve never used. That we’re not authorised to use, as Michael deemed them barbaric and against the law.”
“Why weren’t they destroyed then?” Isaac whispered, blood running cold as he realised where Paul was going with this.
“Michael ordered them to be destroyed and I thought they were, but they’re still fucking there.”
Isaac knew about the serum the HRU used to force someone into a half-shift. He hated to think what other horrors they thought up that Michael had decided were too horrific to use. He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know they’re still in there?” Had Paul used them on someone? Had he used them on Logan’s parents? Isaac took a small step away from him.
Paul scoffed. “Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t fucking used them on anyone.”
Yet? Because he’d had no trouble using the other serums the HRU had.
Paul glanced at the door, and Isaac knew they’d been in the bedroom way too long. “I went into the storage area looking for something, and when I couldn’t find it, I found that by accident.”
Isaac wanted to ask what he’d been looking for, but Paul was already opening the bedroom door and pushing him out into the hall. “There’s HRU training clothes in the wardrobe if you want to get changed and food in the fridge if you’re hungry,” he said as they walked back into the living area.
Isaac walked over to the window. It was open an inch, enough to let the barest of breezes flow in.I miss the sea already.
I miss Michael.
He imagined the look on Michael’s face when they’d told him and put a hand over his heart to rub the pain away.
I’m sorry.
I should’ve been more careful.
But there was no time for that now. Finding some resolve, he glanced back at Paul. “How long will you keep me here? I’d like to lodge a complaint with the Shifter Council.”
