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I s a sole memory or belief was the fact you could never account for all the questions that ht one, as it was in this case

Evin didn’t know me, despite his belief to the contrary

"There’s a few years’ difference between us," I commented "Which probably meant ould have run in very different circles"

And there were other reasons we ht now, thanks to whoever hadand you’re my sis - "

"Evin," I said softly, "I’m not That’s a belief someone has planted in your mind"

"What?" He looked at me like I was crazy

And very possibly, I was After all, I was just going on instinct here, and it had sometimes led me very far astray

"Look, someone has seriously messed my memories It isn’t just the tablets Someone with telepathic abilities has erased - or at least contained - not only the knowledge of who I am, but where I lived, what I did, and who I loved It’s probable that someone has snatched pieces of your memory, too, just to make it easier for you to project the lie"

"You’re wrong I know you’re wrong" He stared at ht in his eyes, then said,

"Even so, I can’t have been lying all that well if you’ve seen through it"

"The whole situation felt wrong, Evin It wasn’t just your lying" Although that didn’t help "Did you ever ed, but they didn’t turn up Contact after that was always via the phone"

"Then how did you get your instructions aboutabout my real identity?"

He shook his head and rubbed a hand across his face "This is all so fucked up"

He had that right "Tell ether we can unfuck it"

He snorted "You and what friggin’ army? There’s more than one damn person behind all this, I know thatvery little in the way of anger and yet all the more deadly because of it, "I don’t need an are on ht I could feel, but I didn’t botherit He said, in a voice that was soft yet filled with sudden wariness, "Just who the hell are you?"

"That’s what I’lanced at hi to pay, Evin And while I don’t think you’re involved more than peripherally, you had better believe that I’et whatever information you have So talk, or I’ll make you"

He believed me The brief flash of fear across his features was evidence enough of that "Lyndal - o I was told to go to a warehouse in Richmond and wait for instructions - "

"Melbourne?" I interrupted, once again feeling that sweep of familiarity I worked there In Spencer Street, at -

sorowl of frustration and added, "That’s in Victoria, isn’t it?"

"Yeah Lyndal and I were holidaying down there I went to the warehouse and waited as directed" He stopped, and frowned "You know, I did lose ti Is it possible for so near you?"

"A trained telepath could stand in front of you and make you blind to their presence," I said "How much time did you lose?"

"Just a fewit was odd"

I nodded "What happened after that?"

"I went back to our hotel and found a folder waiting in our room It told me about you - the Hanna London you - and said that I was to be your guard And if I went to the cops - or spoke to anyone at all about it - then Lyndal was dead ive you the instruction about being my brother?"

"No," he said "Because that bit is true"

I shook ue He continued to stare at rily, "Fuck They could haveI’d never have known"

"They could have, but they didn’t I think they wanted me to be suspicious Whoever h to make me doubt my reality"

He frowned at me "But ould they want to do that?"

"To frustrateme to enjoy as left of my life - and they obviously meant that I wouldn’t"

"What was left of your life? What the fuck does that mean?"

"What do you think it means?" We finally hit the bitumen and the truck’s tail whipped out sideways as I spun the wheel and flattened ht - a deep throbbing sound that oddly felt in tune with the anger within ao?"

"Honestly? Yeah, I did" He scrubbed a hand across his chin "I don’t knohy, but I did"

That belief had to have been i soul, but even he couldn’t be that innocent Not if he caather they’ve been allowing you to talk to Lyndal when you report in every night?"

"Yeah" Fury and desperation swirled through his voice, sharp in the darkness "They’ve been given her a rough ti from verbal to physical abuse, but I didn’t ask him to clarify because, really, there was no point There wasn’t anything we could do to prevent it right now

"She’s still alive, Evin Hold on to that"

"But she’s pregnant"

I briefly closed ainst the fury that swept me They were bastards Complete and utter bastards

"I’d rather hold on to the hope of revenge," he added as his gaze ray eyes were dark and his expression was pensive "Will you help ivingthese bastards down and stopping them Whatever it takes"

"Whatever it takes," heyou’re farthan I auard, then you obviously can fight That’s what I need I can handle the finer details"

"Of that, I have no doubt"

He touched his neck briefly, then jerked his fingers away I thought about stopping the truck to undo the wire, but he didn’t seeet as far away from those men as possible I really didn’t trust thes going wrong - like us escaping

Evin added, "You know, I’m really surprised that they didn’t just kill you It would have been less dangerous for them"

"But not as much fun"