Chapter 26 · You Knew She Was in Here

"You knew she was in here."

Carson's hand hovered over the narrow glass panel beside the lock. Behind it, black ink crawled across a sheet of old paper. Names appeared, blurred, and changed before my eyes.

One name stayed clear.

MERCER, ELAINE.

My mother's name.

My breath snagged. Carson saw it happen. His face went blank so fast it told me everything he didn't want to say.

"I knew her file existed," he said. "I didn't know what was inside it."

"You knew enough to bring me."

"I brought you because the seal won't answer to me."

"And if it kills me?"

His jaw tightened. "I'll break the door before it finishes."

I turned on him. "You'd destroy your father's last records?"

"For you? Yes."

The answer came too fast.

His mouth pressed into a hard line, like he regretted giving me the truth. I hated that my chest reacted before my brain did.

The tower lurched beneath us.

Stone cracked with a sound like a bone snapping.