I did a slow turn to look at Eammon and the other mentors. “Did you all think I was in on this? Was this entire thing a setup?”

Every single face was a careful blank, a mask of their thoughts. My guts clenched. So much for thinking I belonged. This whole thing had been a sting to flush out those working with Hattie. Even if Eammon, Louis and Tom hadn’t known what was going on, they hadn’t trusted me because of Crash which had worked into Corb’s plans. Joe had been the only true one working with her, Sarge and Corb had been trying to flush out others. And one of those others they thought it could be, was little old me.

Darv held up his hand. “The council thanks you, the Hollows Group, for your help in this matter. We will be in touch.” He turned and strode out of the loft, his booted feet clicking on the stairs as he went.

I pulled myself out of the chair, my body hurting and, worse than that, my heart hurting more than a little too. I was no fool. I knew when I was being used as fodder. Himself had done it for so many years, it was easy for me to see now that my eyes were wide open.

The remaining men argued, and I headed down the stairs and out the front door. I was surprised to find Darv standing on the front step, looking at the cemetery across from us.

“Your gran, Celia, was of great service to the council. We hope that you will follow in her footsteps.” Darv handed me a card.

I flipped it over. Just his name and a number, different than the one I already had. “I’ll discuss it with my gran, see how it was working with a council that didn’t know their arse from their head. When they throw innocents under the bus.” I smiled and his smile faded.

“You do not want to make enemies of us,” he said as he stepped off the sidewalk and crossed to the other side. A truck passed between us, and he was gone. Poof.

Like magic. “Nor do you want to make an enemy of me, you little idiot.”