Warm sun on my face felt surreal like I'd spent months in a dark prison and just been released. I headed straight for the water, through an aisle of containers. Behind me was the container holding Arthur. Part of me wanted to run and never turn back.

Halfway to the water, I heard footsteps sprinting to catch up. When he did, I glanced over, wondering what he made of my sudden retreat. But he was looking away, inspecting our surroundings and ensuring we were alone.

Even if he didn't ask, my abrupt departure was odd. There was enough to worry him without adding my pounding headache, nausea, and general exhaustion to his troubles.

"I'm fine. Just needed some air," I explained, playing Kiley's necklace between my fingers.

"Same."

Another sideways glance told me he'd refocused on our conversation, on me. His rapid heartbeat was visible as his temple pulsed. Did he understand any of this? All of it?

"We need answers," I said. Catching my lip between my teeth, I considered my next statement. He'd answered the question when he'd caught me talking to Arthur. But I had to be sure. Kael had a knack for omissions. "But you don't know why Arias wants me, right?"

Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was probably throbbing like mine. "I told you. This thing with you is new. He's always just wanted the Eye. But you understand that whoever else is nominated needs you now."

Pain in my head surged down my spine leaving needles along its path. "I have to know, Kael. How do we find out?"

His eyes narrowed. Watching me, he seemed to come to some resolution within himself. With a tight jaw, he pulled a cell phone from his dark slacks. Seconds later the other line was ringing.

When he glanced at me I frowned but didn't ask the question. The answer came soon enough.

"Price here." Ava's face filled the screen, her British accent clipped. "Kael?"

She sounded scared now. Kael walked slowly toward the shade by one of the containers to fight the glare on the screen.

"I've found Henry." Kael's voice was flat. "You have some explaining to do."

Ava glanced sideways, noticeably unsettled. One eyebrow shot up. "Let me guess. Am I responsible for everything? Ruining his life, killing Kiley. He doesn't take responsibility for anything that man. Does he have the diamond?"

Kael glanced at me, conveying his fury with the look in his eyes. Ava noticed his diverted attention.

"Who else is there?"

"What does Arias want with Harper?"

"Arias?" Ava's voice rose an octave. "Who's asking? Is she with you?"

Kael's fist hit the metal container, causing a deafening vibration. "Answer the question, Ava!"

Silence. Noting the tight lipped expression Ava wore, I pushed in beside him. "Ava if you know something, you have to tell us."

"I've lost everything thanks to your little stunt at the embassy, Harper. My career, respect. If you want answers, Kael comes back in. Help me get reinstated and we bring down Arias. Something to get my life back. If you think-"

"Here's how we'll play this," Kael lifted the screen closer to his face. "Tell me what he wants with Harper or I'll send Henry over there to talk to you personally."

"But you-"

"I'm not coming back anytime soon, Ava." Kael surprised me by saying. I gawked at him but his attention was on the phone. "So you answer this today or die tomorrow."

"If you-" By her tone, Ava was starting another argument. Before she could, Kael hung up. He tossed the phone into the gap between two containers.

He mumbled, "I knew it." His hand came up through his hair.

Aching behind my eyes was different from my migraine. Tears pooled in my lids. I looked away. 

"It's too much. Why couldn't she just tell us?" I moaned.

Kael shook his head, angry and struggling to control it. "Come on," he said. Reaching out, he took my hand.

We walked further away from the container where Arthur was held. Our pace was brisk and every step sent a blinding pain through my brain. I needed to get away, just a moment of reprieve. Away from the lies and deception, the silent omissions. But everyone had changed or gone mad and the reality was pressing in and threatening to break me.

At the far side of another isle of containers, Kael stopped. He flipped a panel beside the door and pressed his thumb into the pad. A lock clicked open.

I didn't think to ask where we were going or why we were here. The pain in my head was too distracting. When we stepped inside, it was a room similar to the one where Arthur had been held. There was one-way glass and multiple switches against the dark walls.

"There's cameras. If you need anything, just say." Kael backed away and outside, leaving me alone in the place.

I switched the light on. Already my eyes had adjusted to the darkness. I had to blink a few times to see. When I could see into the other room, my heart soared. Garrett sat on a bed against the far wall, writing something in one of his hundreds of notebooks.

None of his failings came to mind, his recent insanity. All I saw was an old friend. He seemed so far removed from what had happened to Arthur and Maria. What Madeline had done to him wasn't his fault anyway. Seeing him bent over his notebooks was so endearingly Garrett. Everything he'd done in this was meant to help me. No doubt he'd help me now.

"Garrett!" I burst through the door.

Garrett was up and already moving toward me. His hug was warm and tight.

For no reason, I started sobbing. His arms tightened around me and I clung to him, wishing I'd thought about him sooner, asked about him last night. But I'd been in another world of agony, something that Garrett would soon understand.

"Maria's dead," I whispered when I could catch my breath. He stiffened. "Arthur is Kael's father and he... it was an accident but he..." my voice faded into a choked sob.

"Oh no, Harper." Garrett sounded as upset as I was. He'd always been close with my foster mother. Somehow his grief gave a measure of reprieve to my own.

I backed away with a shaky breath and tried to collect myself. "She was innocent in all this. If I wasn't mixed up in it-"

"It's not your fault." Garrett reached out and squeezed my shoulder, empathy in his eyes. "It's his. Kael's brought this on all of us. You see that now?"

With watery eyes, I looked up at him. Considering his four-star accommodation, Garrett looked well. Clean, shaved, well dressed and fed. In fact, his room wasn't terrible either. There wasn't a television or computer, but there were books and papers scattered about, a decent bed and a desk. Judging by his skin color, he'd been allowed outside a bit too.

"He needs me to become Arias." I heard myself say. Immediately, I wished I hadn't. The statement sounded to side with Garrett's inclination to kill Kael when no part of me agreed.

"Of course he does." Garrett sighed. "Trust me. We have to get you away from him."

"Did you know?"

Garrett nodded. "Madeline told me. I told you, she's not as bad as you think. She feels for you. At one time, he used her the same way."

"But when I asked you about Arias, you never said anything about me being involved."

"I didn't know then."

Madeline keeps in contact with you? Nothing Garrett could say would change my opinion of the woman. As much as the concept bothered me, Garrett wouldn't know.

"Did she say why?"

"Nah," Garrett said, pulling out a chair from the desk and sitting down. He leaned his elbows on his knees and studied the floor. When he looked up, he said. "But she was very clear. You are the most valuable woman in England. And Kael knows it."

*****

Garrett's back! What is Harper missing? Do you think he'll be a help or hindrance? 

Sorry about the delay in updating. I haven't had a chance to write and post this. Thanks as always for reading guys. Can't wait to hear your thoughts :D

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