The detective scooted close to his computer, typed on the keyboard, and pulled up the video of Shelby in the room answering questions, tears streaming.

“You should hear this for yourself,” West said as he hit Play.

“I recently learned who my father is,” the woman said. “Was. He died fifteen years ago. And he has a memorial in his name. But he was not a hero. He left me and my mother to survive on our own. She died, and I grew up in the foster system never knowing who my father was.”

Shock rolled through Alex. No. This couldn’t be true. She must be lying. “Replay it.”

Trevor replayed the video, and Alex watched it three more times.

She was telling the truth. Or at least she believed it.

“It started with Sheridan’s plaque a few months ago,” Alex said. “Why her?”

“I asked her the same thing.” Trevor fast-forwarded the video.

“Because . . . I blamed her. He left my mother for her. Or so I thought. I found pictures of them together, but then I realized I had misunderstood their relationship. I’m sorry.” She covered her eyes and sobbed.

“She looks like she’s only nineteen, but she’s twenty-one. She was definitely a troubled teen.”

“And . . . my sister.”

Trevor looked at him. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to bail her out.” Alex stood.

“The fine is usually $400.”

“How about just dropping the charges?”

“Good thing I haven’t officially charged her.” Trevor led him down to the jail cells.

“I can’t believe you put her in a cell,” Alex said.

“Sometimes kids need a little fear struck into them. I had the feeling that’s all she needed. And if you think you can handle her . . .”

Alex had no idea. “I can.” God, help me.

Alex couldn’t just leave her here without at least talking to her. This was urgent, and he needed to deal with it and help her if he could. As for Mackenzie . . . God, please let me talk to Mackenzie again. You know the time and the place. He had no idea what that conversation would look like. Regardless, he hoped for her sake that there were no repercussions from the Nebulous 2.0 cyberchaos.

He paused outside of the entrance to the cells where Shelby was being held. “I need to make a call first.”

Trevor crossed his arms and nodded. “I’ll be waiting right here.”

Alex stepped a few yards back down the hallway to make the call on his cell.

She answered.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hey, Alex. Are you okay? I heard the news about an explosion at Hanstech. A bomb or something. Did you hear about that? What is this world coming to?”