Chapter 37 · We have maybe forty seconds

The room shuddered. Dust dropped from the ceiling. Somewhere beyond the sealed door, heavy boots struck metal. The corp hounds had found us.

Jaxon heard them too.

"We have maybe forty seconds," he said.

"Then talk faster."

"The log proves Victor didn't scrap you."

I stared at him.

"He ordered my execution."

"That's what the official file says."

"I was there."

"No, you weren't."

The words came out flat. Certain.

I pressed the gun harder against his throat. "Careful."

"You were in a recovery bay. Your body was damaged. Your memory was gone. Victor signed the disposal order, but he didn't order you killed."

"Then what did he order?"

"A transfer."

"To where?"

"This place."

The corpse moved again. Its head turned toward us beneath the plastic.

I didn't look away from Jaxon.

"You brought me here," I said.

"I followed your signal."

"You knew I'd find the body."

"I knew the Glitch would bring you to it."

"You used me."

"Yes."

No excuse. No polished lie. Just the word.

My hand shook once.

Jaxon noticed. Of course he did.

"There," he murmured. "That's the part you hate. Not that I used you. That I admitted it.