Page 64 of Peak’s Code

“I’d been thinking about it for several minutes,” Warden said. Despite herself, Maeve almost laughed. The humor died when the burner phone vibrated in Warden’s hand. All three of them froze. The screen showed a blocked number. Warden answered without speaking and put the call on speaker. For several seconds, only static came through.

Then a man’s voice said, “You took your time.” It was Mercer’s voice. Maeve moved closer, and Warden’s face darkened.

“How are you calling me?” Warden asked.

“I borrowed a phone.” Ruin’s shout sounded faintly in the background, and Mercer chuckled. “Your vice president is having a difficult morning.”

Warden reached for the motel door, but Peak blocked him. “Wait,” Peak ordered.

Mercer continued. “Maeve, are you listening?”

Her mouth went dry. “How did you know I was here?”

“Because you’re predictable,” Mercer said.

She took the phone from Warden. “Where is Wren?”

“Still asking the wrong question,” Mercer drawled.

“What’s the right one?” she asked.

“Why is she alive?” Mercer said. Maeve’s heart slammed against her ribs.

Peak moved close enough that his shoulder touched hers. “Tell me,” she said.

“Your sister built something the Director needs.”

“The crawler?” Maeve asked.

“Something better.” Maeve’s thoughts raced. Wren had kept the backup. Maybe she’d expanded it or even changed it. Maybe she created another program while in captivity.

“What did she build?”

Mercer laughed softly. “You’ll have to ask her.”

“Give me the address where I can find her,” Maeve shouted.

“I can give you something more useful.” Maeve closed her eyes. Every conversation with Mercer was a game—a maze designed to keep her moving while he controlled the walls.

“What?” she asked.

“Captain is alive.”

Warden grabbed the phone. “Where is he?”

“Dr. Voss has him.” Maeve looked at Peak. It had to be the facility near Cambridge. Mercer’s voice continued. “She wants to trade.”

“For what?” Warden demanded.

“Maeve.” Nobody moved. The word seemed to drain all the air from the motel room. Peak took the phone from Warden.

“Not happening.”

Mercer chuckled. “Then Captain dies.”

“Where’s the trade?” Maeve asked.

“Instructions will follow.” The line went dead. Warden immediately tried calling back, but got nothing. Maeve stared at the phone in Peak’s hand. She had known this moment would come. Someone would eventually threaten a life in exchange for hers. She had spent eighteen months preparing for it. Telling herself she wouldn’t allow anyone else to pay the price for what she had started.