Page 114 of Whistleblower

But I’m frozen, curiosity gluing me in place as the side window rolls down and I see who’s driving the vehicle. It all hits me in an instant, like the storm clouds parting, making way for the truth to shine through.

“Hello, Dr. Abbott—or apologies, Eden.”

Trying to control my shaky breath, I return her greeting. “Good afternoon, Director Ravi.”

With that I pivot, fully intent on running back to the front doors of the correctional facility while screaming for the guards, but for the second time in a week now, I hear a pistol cock. Harmon presses the gun against my back.

“Don’t run,” he commands, grabbing my purse from my shoulders, relieving me of all my personal items. “Please just get in the car.”

“Come along, Eden,” Ravi says in a menacing, sing-song voice. “We need to talk.”

She rolls up her driver’s side window as Harmon escorts me into the back seat, gun still pressed against my back in broad daylight. There’s no one here to help me, what’s the point in screaming?

And this time I see it.

Mom, Dad, Mickey…Linc. I see them all flash before my eyes as the car door shuts and the vehicle peels away from the curb.

FORTY

LINC

Someone’s head needs to come off.

It certainly won’t be Eden’s. Watching my security tapes, I don’t know who the agent was that picked up Eden from outside my gate in the dead of night, but I do have a sneaking suspicion as to who helped orchestrate all this bullshit.

Callen has some fucking explaining to do.

Barreling into the PALADIN compound like a shark who smells blood, I check his office first. Nothing.

I check the medical wing. Nothing.

I check Vesper’s office. Empty.

When I burst into the break room, Lance jumps about two feet away from Cricket. They are both panting and flushed.

“What the—”

“It’s nothing,” Cricket grumbles and brushes past me as she leaves the room in a hurry.

Pulling down on his face in anguish, Lance looks at me. “Hey, didn’t know you were coming in today. Where’s Eden?”

“Great question,” I growl. “Where’s Callen?”

“Meeting room, I think?”

I don’t bother to respond as I turn on my heel and head to the meeting room where Eden made us play that remote island game over a month ago now. It seems like such a short time frame for everything in my world to change so drastically.

Ripping open the door, I slam the note in my hand down in front of Callen, who is seated at the head of the table.

“Please tell me I’m wrong,” I snarl. “Tell me you had nothing to do with this.” I unfold Eden’s note that informed me she needed some space, she was out with Cricket, and to please trust her. She said she’d be back within twenty-four hours. She promised.

And time is up.

“I just saw Cricket, who is obviously not with Eden. Where is she? Explain. Now,” I roar.

“Linc,” Callen begins, looking nervously at Vesper, like he wants the master to chain up her dog. “Eden was the only one he’d talk to—"

I lose control.