Page 20 of Cup of Lies

Just a bump on the head.

Liars.

They did something to me.

Probably did it to Calista too.

Not anymore. I’m going to find out what the hell is going on around here and then I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again. She’ll be safe with me.

Theo guides us inside. He waves to a few people inside a lab through the windows. Inside, the scientists or doctors or whoever these people are work busily, eyes glued to their notes or microscopes or laptops. Only one man looks up long enough to return Theo’s wave.

My brother takes us to a stairwell. Once on the second floor, he strides over to another keypad by a door. This room has no windows.

“The subject is in her holding room,” Theo explains as we enter the large, warm room filled with servers and computers. “We can look over some of her stats before I check in on her. She’s several weeks in the CUP program, so she’s nearly ready for movement.”

I don’t know what any of this truly means, but I nod as though I do. Calista stays glued to my side. If I weren’t so uneasy about this whole work trip, I’d be inwardly celebrating this small win with her. It feels like I’m getting my sister back.

Back from what?

That part, I have no clue.

I’m going to find out, though.

“You like to sit at that desk over there,” Theo says, pointing to a sparse one in the corner. “It’s okay if you can’t remember.”

I don’t.

No fucking memory at all.

So frustrating.

“I’ll get there,” I say, believing every damn word. “Where do you sit?”

Theo grins at me. “Tech was always Gareth’s and your thing. I’m more of a hands-on kind of guy. Third floor is where I like to work.”

“Are you going there now?”

He chuckles. “No. I can’t leave you here alone. You might break something. Dad will kill me.”

I’m not a toddler.

“Maybe I might prefer floor three too.” I shrug as if that’s an option. In my gut, I know he’s right. I’m clearly a tech guy.

“Right,” Theo agrees, smirking at me. “Okay, grab a seat and I’ll show you how our subject is doing.” He shoots a look Calista’s way. “May not be suitable for young eyes.”

I share a weighted, silent look with Calista. Somehow, she understands that I need her to go sit somewhere out of earshot. She holds up her iPad to indicate she’ll be drawing. I flash her a quick smile.

Theo takes me over to “my desk” and then pulls over another chair for me to sit beside him to watch. As he fires the computer to life, several monitors blink on. He enters in a different code, this one that he types too fast to memorize, and then has access to his files.

What is he about to show me?

His files are sorted by month and year. The newest one is on top. Subject Olivia 3.

“There have been three Olivias run through this program?”

Theo snorts out a laugh. “Three attempts, same person. Third time’s the charm, though.”

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair comes into view. It’s a photograph. She has sores on her face, bags under her eyes, and her hair is matted to her head.

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