Sloane stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing. The youth center had been a recruitment center? He had so many questions, he didn’t know where to start.
“Sloane, think about the situation you found yourself in. Think about Ash and all the others like you. You needed a place to go, but at the time, there wasn’t one. Dr. Shultzon went out personally to find those like you. He saw your potential and that of many others, so he devised the THIRDS First Gen Recruitment Program. Unfortunately, it meant your home became….” She cleared her throat and waved a hand in dismissal. “Well, anyway. After the THIRDS First Gen Recruitment Program ended, the THIRDS wanted to continue seeking out gifted Therian individuals, without all the media brouhaha and political meddling. If the Human military could recruit via high schools, why couldn’t we recruit in a similar fashion?
“The THIRDS opened Therian Youth Centers all around the country. Those who don’t qualify get what they need—education, food, shelter, and are soon found permanent housing. They’re given the tools necessary to get out there and face the world. Those who show potential are introduced to a THIRDS Recruitment Specialist who discusses their future with them.” She cocked her head to one side, studying him. “Do you need a moment?”
“No, I’m fine,” he muttered, trying to take in all this new information. It wasn’t as though he was surprised he’d been kept in the dark about all this. The THIRDS—for all its good intentions—was still a government organization, and no one loved secrets better than the U.S. government. What he wouldn’t have given when he was younger to have somewhere like the youth center, somewhere colorful and bright, with other kids like him, toys and classrooms, the semblance of a normal life. A part of him was angry First Gens had suffered as they had, simply to be understood, to earn the right to be treated as citizens and not animals. He was glad the new recruits didn’t have to go through what he did. He wouldn’t wish that hell on anyone, but he still couldn’t keep the bitterness from his voice when he spoke. “Must be nice, getting your pick of the best and brightest, knowing they’re not a bunch of fucked up sociopaths.”
The lieutenant’s expression softened. “Sloane, it was a different time. The Humans didn’t know what they were dealing with. Hell, even we didn’t know what we were. Hundreds of Human and Therian citizens were losing their lives by the day. The riots were destroying everything, states, cities, families. The First Gens helped the THIRDS understand Therians and showed the world Therians were more than freaks of nature. Whatever you or anyone else thinks, without you, without the sacrifices you made, the THIRDS wouldn’t be here, and equality for Therians would be nothing but a fanciful hope.”
“I’m honored.” The lieutenant was right, but that didn’t mean he had to feel happy about. It wouldn’t erase what had been done. “So how did Shultzon end up Dr. Freedman?”
“Like I said, the program was terminated after the THIRDS had finished recruiting First Gen agents. Anyone who had anything to do with the program was given a generous severance package. Most of them retired years ago. Shultzon continued to work for us. He wasn’t ready to let go, and he had the right connections. They allowed him to work with the Therian Youth Center as a volunteer doctor under an alias. They gave him a new name, a new life, under the radar to protect him and the THIRDS.”
“And now Isaac has him.” Sloane shook his head. “This is a goddamn nightmare. What if Isaac tortures him for information?”
“Dr. Shultzon is trained to withstand torture.”
Sloane shifted in his seat, hearing the crinkling of paper in his pocket. He cursed under his breath. Pulling out the folded newsletter, he opened it and swallowed hard before placing it on the lieutenant’s desk and sliding it toward her. “What if he doesn’t need torture?”
Lieutenant Sparks snatched up the piece of paper, her eyes going wide. “Shit. I wasn’t told he had kids, much less grandchildren.”
“Sucks being kept in the dark, doesn’t it?”
She frowned at him, but didn’t reply. After studying the photograph for a moment, she took a seat behind her desk. “I need to make a few phone calls. As soon as I have some answers, I’ll hold a briefing. Tell your team you’ll let them know as soon as you hear anything.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Great. More waiting. He stood and turned for the door when she stopped him.
“Sloane?”
He schooled his expression, making certain not to show any signs of his growing anxiety. “Yes?”
“We’ll stop him, but I need to know you can handle this. If it’s too much—”
“I can handle it,” he stated firmly.
Her expression hardened, and her eyes met his. “I won’t hesitate to pull you off this case.”
“Understood.” He gave her a curt nod, ready to leave, when something occurred to him. “What happened to the research facility?”
“It closed when the program terminated. All the archived files were being converted to digital files. There’s not much left, and what is left is under heavy security. It’s also in an undisclosed location. You don’t even know where it is.”
It was true, none of the First Gens knew where they’d been taken, where they’d lived, where they’d become what they were. “Shultzon knows.”
“Like I said, it’s in a secret location and heavily fortified. We would know the minute anyone unauthorized so much as attempted to step foot inside.”
“For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.”
“Before you go. I need you and your partner to go to the hospital. I need to know when your teammates are ready to come in. Also, please remind Agent Summers he’s due for briefing first thing tomorrow.”
With a nod, Sloane walked out of her office, closing the door behind him, his thoughts on everything he’d learned. He had to watch his step. If he showed any signs of being unable to cope with the case, or God help him, a relapse, he’d become a hindrance, and possibly a danger to himself and his team. He couldn’t allow that to happen. As much as he told himself he could cope, he couldn’t say for certain what would happen the deeper they delved into this. For now, all he could do was his job, and pray Isaac didn’t get his hands on any First Gen records. Now that he thought about it, it was probably a good thing Dex was keeping his distance.
Oh God, Dex. Sloane came to an abrupt halt outside his office. He hadn’t even thought about Dex, about what he would think if he found out. Finding his office empty, Sloane quickly stepped inside and locked the room behind him, turning on privacy mode. He looked down at his hands, cursing under his breath at the sight of them trembling. What if Dex found out the truth about his past? This argument would be the least of their worries. How would Dex look him in the eye, much less work with him? Sloane sank into his chair behind his desk.
“Keep it together.” This was exactly what Lieutenant Sparks was talking about. It would be fine. It had to be. The THIRDS wouldn’t let that information get out. How many First Gen THIRDS agents would be pulled from duty if the public discovered where they’d come from or what they’d done? Who would look after his team while Sloane was…? Damn it. No. He stood and tapped his earpiece. “Daley, meet me at the car.” As he headed out, he told himself he wasn’t going to break. Now he had to make himself believe it.
Chapter 10