They exchange another look but say nothing.

Lynell sighs. “Fine, if you don’t want to know . . .”

“Wait.” Smith steps forward.

She smirks and sits on the edge of the bed. “So? Do we have a deal? You have the right to know what kind of man you’re working for, after all. Especially when there’s another choice. You have to promise to keep this information to yourselves.”

The silence stretches for a moment too long and Lynell starts to worry that Eric will walk in any moment now, cutting her time with these two guards short.

Then Smith nods and says, “Okay, we promise.”

“Both of you?” Lynell asks, looking at Kenneth, who grudgingly nods after studying Smith’s expression. “Perfect,” Lynell says. “Now, let me tell you a story of complete control.”

Lynell explains what the code does, embellishing some to make up for her own lack of knowledge. She tells them it’s a key to manipulating the Registration anonymously. The person with this key could sell additional Registrations, take names off the list, or end it completely if they wished. She speaks until she hears movement outside the door and quickly lies back on the bed and closes her eyes. Both men exchange eager looks and turn to face the door as it opens.

“Wake up,” Eric says. Lynell opens her eyes, wary of the light tone in Eric’s voice, and stares at the ceiling. She takes measured breaths to keep fear at bay. “How’s your day been so far?” he asks, standing at the head of the bed to look down at her. Lynell fights the urge to spit at him. “Mine hasn’t been great, thanks for asking. Hours wasted trying to decode that letter since you refuse to be of assistance.”

“What makes you think I can assist you?” she asks. The springs and metal creak below her as she sits up. Eric is standing tall, shoulders pulled back. “I’ve known this letter for most of my life and I’ve never noticed anything before.”

“You didn’t know to look.”

“I’ve known to look for over a week and still don’t see anything,” she lies. “What if there’s no code? What if you were wrong and all this was for nothing?”

Eric frowns, eyebrows furrowing together. The expression is so like Zach’s that a pang of sadness slices through her.

“Then I have no reason to keep you alive any longer, do I?” Eric says.

Lynell shrugs. “You’re going to kill me anyway. And now I have nothing else to lose.”

“I could always kill Anna.”

“You promised,” Lynell says. She tenses, her blood heating.

Eric grabs his big belly with one hand and laughs without any humor.

“You think I care?” Eric says, letting out a long breath. “If I don’t get what I want, I will use her.”

Her chest caves in. “You already have everything,” she whispers.

Eric frowns. “I am everything. I am the Registration. It will answer to me and so will you.” His chest pushes out and his glare pierces Lynell.