“Hard to say. Rylee compelled you to speak the truth and accepted your answer, but the council prefers to eliminate betraying humans. An alpha such as me or Rylee can compel you to lie and make you believe you spoke the truth.”
“But why would Rylee do that?”
“She wouldn’t. The problem is she has many enemies amongst the royal packs and some members of the council.”
“Politics.”
Steele faced Tomlin and sniffed. “We better continue; we don’t have much time.”
“What’s the hurry?”
“Unfortunately, he’s been poisoned.”
“He looks healthy to me.”
“It was done recently. He’ll feel the effects soon enough.”
Steele opened Tomlin’s eyelid. Bloodshot. “Tomlin, wake up.”
He lifted his head. “Yes.”
“Did you feel a pinch or poke sometime today?”
“Yes. In the helicopter. A wasp maybe.”
“Where?”
“On my neck, near my left shoulder.” He stared at Steele as if in realization. “The pilot took the insect off, but he flung it away before I could look at it.”
“How do you feel?”
“Tired.”
“You will continue to answer all my questions.”
“Yes.”
“Who hired you to assassinate Emma York?”
“A man I don’t know.”
“Human.”
“Yes.”
Gaby furrowed her brow. As far as they knew, Avery, who headed the Keep had returned to the shadows, in order to remain hidden from Team Greywolf. Had Emma learned about his faction? “Was it the Keep?”
“I don’t know,” said Tomlin.
Steele continued. “You don’t know why she was targeted?”
“We are guns for hire. No need to know. He just wanted her death to look like an accident.”
“Like Mr. H.?
“Who?”
“The other CIA agent. The one Ken killed with venomous snakes.”