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She sat at a metal table, cuffed to it. She felt her hands shaking as she looked up at Leo. “Why am I here?”

He nodded. His face unreadable. The silent treatment.

“Can you explain the collar?” she began sweating more.

“I don’t like the collars, but they’ve started using them to prevent captive Enteks from using their abilities. It’ll shock you if you try to do anything telepathic.”

She gulped and nodded.

“Did you have any part in the warehouse fire?”

“No.”

Leo leaned forward, “You sure?”

“Why would I lie?”

“We’re talking about the arson case that killed Jake and his brother. You are the first lead I’ve gotten in months. I suggest you tell me what you know.”

Marian shrank back, “I was giving some of Jake and Fabian’s belongings that I had in my possession back to their mother when I went to ask after them.”

“We are dealing with murder. I need the truth.”

“Murder?” Marian frowned, “They’re not dead, weren’t you informed?”

Leo paled. His whole body went rigid. He shook his head ever so slightly. He stepped away from her, saying in a wavering voice, “I’m done. Put her in a holding cell.”

***

Two days later, Marian laid on her back in the same holding cell, trying to calm her breathing. Three years of savings was evaporated by now. And her life might face the same fate too.

She pushed her bangs out of her eyes, sighing. Painfully aware of the necklace not being on her person. They’d taken it despite her protests, along with her watch and all her other clothes, rendering her just as vulnerable as she was when she arrived. Just as helpless. She closed her eyes on her tears. She could do nothing.

“Hey.”

Marian sat up, seeing Leo leaning against the door, not facing her. “Here to interview me again?”

“Yes.” His fingers flicked, and her collar fell from her neck.

She frowned, picking it up. “How did you…”

He put his hand through the bars, “Show me what you know.”

Marian approached, handing him the collar and clasping his hand. She closed her eyes, feeling his wariness, but it wasn’t for her. it was worry that he’d show her something. She pushed past her own curiosity, and let her memories of the past few days and the mission flow into his hands. Everything she knew, all the pain and heartache, barraging him.

Leo pulled away from her hand, pale. He leaned against the door, hands shaking. “You…” his voice cut off.

“Are you ok?”

Leo nodded, then shook his head. “Jake was here?”

Marian blinked, “Excuse me?”

His voice strengthened, “You know Jake. And he’s… alive?”

“How do you know him?”

He looked up at her, “I’m Jake’s… their…” he rubbed his face, “I’m his dad.”

Marian frowned.

Leo sighed, “I…” he fumbled about his pockets, finding a folded up piece of paper and handing it to her, “I’m Jake’s dad.”

Marian looked at it, a little boy with wavy tan hair and cool green eyes smiled too widely at the camera, a smile Jake used to flash whenever his picture was taken – and a woman’s hand rested on his shoulder, but whoever the woman was, the photo had been torn so it didn’t show her. She handed it back to Leo, “He looks so young…”

“And happier…” Leo muttered. He wiped under his eyepatch and straightened, recovering himself alarmingly fast and he left Marian alone.