I saw my reflection in the window as I turned my head to look out at the city. I touched the stitches at my scalp. “Is she? Redacted, I mean.”

“No. But if you did open that file, I’d wonder what your motivations were.”

“Answers, I guess. Who she is. Why she is the way she is,” I said. “What she wants. What the hell happened to my hometown.”

“In the eyes of Mrs. Wynn, you earned the right to know. You bartered for the files, you get them. In my eyes, our eyes, if I include Defiant, who is beside me right now, being in Mrs. Wynn’s favor isn’t necessarily a good thing, but we’re willing to extend the trust because you’re doing what you’re doing for good reasons.”

“Thank you. And thank Defiant for me. I appreciate the faith.”

“Done. Be careful around Mrs. Wynn, Victoria,” Dragon said.

“I will. I know.”

“We’re almost done. I’m including some files I found in my backups. I don’t know if Lookout kept track or managed those things, but it’s notes for her old work that she submitted to the PRT, and the specs from the testing division.”

“She was enough of an unknown for the testing division?”

“The director wanted to cover all the bases.”

“I hope she likes it,” I said. “Getting shot’s a bit of a downer. Having your friends get shot, allies die, your work destroyed, and the investigation stalled is pretty devastating too. Missed our deadline.”

“I can’t tell if you’re still talking about Lookout,” Dragon said.

“Any word on the villain meeting?”

“It went as one might expect. They’re angry. If the culprits of the attacks last night and today are there, they’re in good company.”

“Or they’re fostering the dissent. Any idea on who is taking point? Where Tattletale stands?”

“On leadership, no. Tattletale has declared herself neutral in this. In the revenge, dominance, asserting of strength that the other villains are intent on.”

“Good for her,” I said.

“Not quite,” Dragon said.

A voice came through the speaker. It took me only a second to realize who it was.

“I’m still available for sale, but prices are tripling, because I have other things to focus on. Normally I’d try to steer this ship, but if you guys want to set things on fire… have at it.”

“What are the prices?”

“If you have to ask, Hock, you’re not in a position to pay.”

“Fuck.”

“Any takers? Hands up so I know…”

I frowned.

“We don’t have visual, but we do know there were takers,” Dragon said. “Cradle was one. I know he’s a person of interest to your team.”