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Then back at him.

“And you lost him.”

His jaw tightens.

“We didn’t lose him.”

“He’s still out there?”

A beat.

Then—

“We think so.”

Think.

Not good enough.

“Define think,” I say.

The agent’s eyes harden.

“We lost contact two days before Tank went dark.”

That hits.

Because it lines up.

Too well.

“Tank found him anyway,” I say.

“Yes.”

“And then?”

The agent doesn’t answer right away.

Which means I already know.

“Something went wrong,” I finish.

His silence confirms it.

Behind me, I hear Aspen’s breath catch.

Quiet.

But I hear it.

Always.

“What does this have to do with her?” I ask, my voice dropping.

The agent looks at Aspen again.

Longer this time.