Burn by Sarah Fine and Walter Jury Page B

There are two more in the front—Graham and Mack. Somewhere along the way, we picked up three more agents. I have no idea how long I’ve been out, or what time it is, or where we are.
    â€œWelcome back,” says Congers. He’s sitting on my right. “We’re getting close. We’ll get you two something to eat soon, as long as you’re cooperative.”
    â€œFuck you,” I whisper, staring straight ahead.
    â€œSilly, immature words from a silly, immature boy,” he replies, sounding bored.
    â€œHow’s your buddy Race doing? My silliness worked pretty well against the last agents who came after me.”
    â€œHe’s been busy cleaning up the mess you made in Virginia. You’ll see him soon.”
    Great.
“I’m not going to help you get into my dad’s lab.” Now that Christina and her family are safe, it’s about withstanding what they do to me, not people I care about. Except, unfortunately, Leo tried to help me, like an idiot, and so I have to decide what’s more important—him, or my father’s discoveries.
    â€œI would think,” Congers says slowly, “that your father would have taught you to evaluate a situation thoroughly before shooting off your mouth. And yet that seems to be one of your most consistent characteristics.”
    He’s right. My dad did teach me that. It was a quality he prized. And being reminded of that only pisses me off more. Then Congers slaps my thigh in a condescending way that makes me wish my hands were free so I could beat the shit out of him.
    â€œWe don’t have to be enemies, Tate, though I will be if you need one,” he says. “But please believe that you will regret it.”
    â€œYou’re the one who framed my dad as a terrorist, aren’t you?”
    He looks me right in the eyes. “It was necessary.”
    â€œRuining a good man’s name was
necessary
?”
    â€œUnfortunately, yes, seeing as his son set off a catastrophic incident that required extensive and decisive damage control. We kept it quiet for as long as we could, but information was leaking. The public required an overarching narrative to pacify them, and so we offered one that fit.”
    I look away from his cold gaze and swallow hard. I still blame him for smearing my dad’s name . . . but I also blame myself. I force the thought down and look outside again. “Where are we going?”
    â€œYour ridiculous rescue attempt drew a great deal of attention, and people were already on edge after what happened at your school on Monday. We decided to exit the city until our agents based there can assure us the scene has quieted down.”
    He still hasn’t answered my question. Judging by the shadowy outlines of trees on either side of the road, we’re nowhere near Manhattan. I expected them to take me straight to my dad’s lab, but I guess I made that impossible, which seems like a good thing at the moment. I squint at the license plate of a minivan in front of us as Graham comes up on it hard and swerves into the oncoming lane to pass. Garden State. “Are we in Jersey?”
    â€œWe have a lab of our own,” says Congers with a smile. “Conveniently, it’s also a place where no one will hear you scream if I decide to make that happen. Or maybe I should just work on this one and let you watch?” He abruptly grabs a handful of Leo’s hair and jerks his head back. Leo’s wide eyes stare at the ceiling, but again, he doesn’t cry out. “He won’t tell us who he is, but you seem to be important to him.” Congers lets him go.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter who he is. It matters what he is. A clueless kid. Just some science club wannabe from my school.” As I say it, Leo’s shoulders tense.
    â€œThen maybe I should kill him and have one less clueless kid to deal with today,” suggests Congers. “But I think his pain