“What can you tell us?”

“I can tell you that in the last four days, six young people and two adults have been…collected from this general area. There are no specifics yet, only statistics. Are you certain the individual is no longer in the vicinity?”

Jean spoke up. “We’ve spent the past two days and nights searching every inch of the woods. We took turns, so there was someone looking every hour. The only things we found were small amounts of blood on the edge of the clearing and a few snapped branches on the path.”

“Low branches?”

“Yes,” Bullet picked up. “Suggesting something or someone had been dragged.”

Father Carole placed a hand on Jean’s forearm. “I wouldn’t worry too much about the blood. If it’s his, he’s not likely to be too injured. It doesn’t fit the needs or rules of the organization.”

Rose scoffed. Bullet cracked her neck by tilting her head toward one shoulder, then the other. “Of course, we are grateful for the reassurance.” She spun around in her seat, making eye contact with the girl. “And the help. We know you come here at great expense to your own safety.”

“It is the only choice I have. I couldn’t live with myself otherwise.” He folded his hands on the table, his white cuffs peeking out from underneath a dark coat. “I will get word to you as soon as the details are released. I can tell you that two regional schools have added four people to their population charts—no names or descriptions yet. Four more were added to the DOA list.” He lowered his gaze.

“DOA?” Jean repeated.

“Four didn’t make it out of the woods,” Bullet told him in a low voice.

“Which schools?” Jean leaned in, refusing to consider the possibility that maybe his boy was on the second list.

“St. Brebeuf and Sir John A. MacDonald.”

“Hmm, both are about eighty miles from here,” Bullet said. “Hard to say which one they’d take him to.”

“Yes, since the decision to make the facilities coed, it’s really anyone’s guess.”

Rose couldn’t hold back. Words popped out like a crow had been released, loud and aggressive. “Well, let’s make a fucking guess, then! I’m tired of wandering around the woods and sitting up in trees with shitty binoculars. Or, better yet, let’s split up and go to both!”

Bullet stood up so fast her log stool fell over. “That’s it. This Council meeting is closed to outsiders. Now.” She pointed toward the main cave, nostrils flaring.

“Outsiders?” Rose was also on her feet in a flash. “Is that what we are now? Outsiders?”

“Well, you’re not Council members, so yes. Outsiders.” Bullet wasn’t backing down. She kept her arm out straight, the other one at her waist. They were in a standoff, neither one budging. Chi Boy broke it, getting up and helping Wab to her feet.

“Let’s go,” he said. “We can get the details later.” The rest of the group stood and followed him. Rose was the last one to go, sneering the entire time, not breaking eye contact with Bullet until she was halfway to the cave. She veered left at the opening, walking fast toward her tent.