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Rory tapped his finger on the desk, then lifted his head. “Fourteen days ago, Sebastian got a call, and it didn’t sound good.”

Hamish nodded. “What did he say?”

“He was shocked, angry. It seemed like something had gone wrong, and he didn’t know how to fix it, and since then, he’s hardly said a word.”

“It’s understandable,” Hamish said.

Rory raised his eyebrows.

“I intervened in the sale of the farm. There’s no chance he or his friend will get their hands on that land. Whatever he was planning on doing there, I’ve stopped him.”

“What about the barrels?”

“They were confiscated. They contained all sorts of chemicals. A lot of potassium nitrate. Charcoal. Looks like they were going to experiment with other substances too.”

“Why?”

Hamish shrugged. “Could be bombs again, but the point is, with your help, we’ve stopped him before he can go back to his old ways. Rory, you’ve done good.”

He didn’t feel good. For fourteen days, Sebastian hadn’t touched him, and he’d barely spoken. There had been no Vaseline nights, or gym sessions, or intense chess games. Sebastian had reverted back to the cold version of himself that Rory had trouble looking at. There was hatred in him again, scolding hatred, not directed at Rory but it was there.

“Your dad would be so proud of you.”

Rory bit his lip. “You think so?”

Hamish nodded. “I know he would be. You’ve done amazingly, and I need you to stay in here a little longer, see what he does when he’s under pressure. Can you do that, Rory?”

Two months ago, he was desperate to leave, but everything had changed. The thought of going had nausea swirling in his stomach. “Yeah, I can stay in longer.”

Hamish smiled. “Good.” He turned to Morris. “Isn’t he doing good?”

“Yeah,” Morris whispered. She was leaning against the wall and hadn’t looked towards the desk once.

“Did that hurt to say?” Rory asked.

Morris pushed off from the wall, then left the room.

“Don’t worry about her.”

“I’m not worrying,” Rory said.

Hamish laughed, then offered his hand over the table for Rory to shake.

“You’ll be out of here really soon,” Hamish said.

Rory had never felt so many opposing emotions at once. His dad would’ve been proud he’d stopped a future catastrophe, but he was also betraying someone he cared about, and when he left the prison, he’d leave behind Ollie, who’d come to rely on him.

Hamish looked as if he was about to leave.

“Erica?” Rory said.

Hamish paused. “What about her?”

“My phone call.”

“Of course. Sorry. You can use my phone since Morris has gone.”

Rory took it and dialled in Erica’s number.

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