“I’m not laying blame,” I said. “I’m saying this is what we have, and we need to deal with it. The sluagh marked Seanna and took her conscience, which left her vulnerable to their control. She became their marionette, fully open to their manipulation. They could set up her encounter with Patrick. They could convince her to get pregnant, claiming it was a way to blackmail him. They obviously have the power to make sure one time was enough to get her knocked up. They fulfilled their bargain with you by stealing one of your own.”

“Stealing her from under our very noses,” Grace muttered. “You were right, Veronica. We should never have made that deal. Damn Walter and Ida for talking me into it. If I had cast my vote with yours—”

“The motion would still have passed. As Liv says, this is not the time for blame. It’s the time for fixing our mistakes. We’re going to need to keep Seanna here longer. If she’s marked—”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Grace grumbled under her breath but said, “Letting her go wouldn’t be right.” She glared at me. “See? I do know right from wrong.”

I was about to comment when my cell phone rang. It was Gabriel.

I answered and said, “Hey, yeah, sorry I haven’t come home yet. I’m chasing down a few things.”

“I presumed that, and I wouldn’t bother you, but Ricky thought you should know this immediately.” Even if I don’t agree, his tone added. “Pamela has been taken to the hospital.”

“What?” I shifted the phone to my other ear and moved into the next room. “Is she okay?”

His pause told me she wasn’t.

“Is it serious?” I said. “Was she attacked again?”

“I don’t know. She was found unconscious in the shower. When the prison medical staff couldn’t revive her, she was rushed to the hospital, where they are still assessing her condition.”

“Has she regained consciousness?”

“No. There’s no outward sign of injury and no evidence of a stroke or heart attack. They’re assessing. That’s all we know at this point.”

He paused. Waiting to see if I wanted to go to the hospital. He would never suggest it, because that might imply an obligation that he didn’t believe I should feel.

“I should go see her,” I said.

“The hospital has agreed to keep us informed. I will gladly take you, but if you mean you should, as in—”

“I’d like to,” I said. “I’d rather get answers than wait for them.”

“Understood. However, you should consider…” He trailed off.

“Should consider what, Gabriel?”

“Nothing. You’re right. This is both efficient and productive. I’ll pick you up as soon as you’re ready.”

—