Page 175 of Silver Elite

Silently, I say,“If an inciter was there that day, all I can be certain of is that it wasn’t me. If that’s where this conversation is headed.”

“No. We already know that.”

They do?

“The network keeps records of all known inciters. Every operative is required to disclose their abilities and those of their family, especially if it’s one of the rarer abilities. Julian reported your gifts when you manifested at age twelve.”

I don’t know how I manage to stay upright when there’s a wave of emotion threatening to knock me to my knees.

Julian Ash.

Uncle Jim.

I don’t know what I did to deserve that man, but it never fails to amaze me how much he’d looked out for me over the years. How far he’d gone to protect me. Even behind the scenes, the man was trying to keep me safe.

I’ve never missed anyone the way I miss him.

We’re only a few minutes into takeoff when Xavier gets an alert. He touches his earpiece, then unbuckles himself and marches toward the cockpit.

“Change of plans,” I hear him tell our pilot. “We’re going to Z.”

My spine snaps into a rigid line. “Z?” I echo when he retakes his seat.

“Cross requested backup.” He smirks at me. “Looks like you’re going home.”

Chapter 39

The controller station in Hamlett is a modest brick compound about a mile from the town square. It houses Controller Fletcher’s office, a small dormitory for visiting soldiers, a conference room, and a handful of cells and interrogation rooms. It’s so strange to be back here, driving down the narrow roads where I used to ride my bike. The square looks tiny now. Maybe I’ve outgrown it. Which is ironic, because it’s not like I’ve been exploring the great wide Continent all these months. I’ve been isolated on the base.

Yet Hamlett feels smaller now.

Insignificant.

Cross meets us outside the compound, but rather than provide a single detail, he and Xavier march away to talk between themselves. My anxiety is only heightened as I’m forced to stand there and wait, not knowing why we’re here.

Despite my nerves, I can’t help but notice how good he looks. Command fatigues and a black T-shirt cling to his tall frame, and the sweat glistening on his brow speaks of how hot it is tonight. Summer’s over, yet Hamlett is always scorching well into the fall.

When the men return, Cross addresses me in a clipped tone. “How well do you know Griff Archer?”

The blood freezes in my veins. I consider how to best answer that, but I don’t have much time to think it through.

“He owns the pub. And he’s my best friend’s father.”

“Right. Your friend. Tanya, is it?”

“Tana.” I grit my teeth. “What the hell is going on here? I thought you needed backup.”

“We do. We’ll need a team once we break Archer.”

It feels like an icy explosion just blew into my chest. I take a steadying breath. My hands feel weak. “What do you mean, ‘break’ him?”

“We’ve been questioning him all day.”

My gaze darts to the building. “Why?”

“Archer and his daughter tried to run. They managed to dodge our surveillance a few nights ago and somehow made it out of Z without detection. Last night they were stopped at a checkpoint in S, where Archer tried to mow down two Copper soldiers with his truck. We brought them both back to Z for questioning.”

Guilt pulls at my insides. This is my fault. I’m the one who warned them about Silver Block being here. They must’ve made plans to escape right after I spoke to Tana.

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