The bound man nods frantically. Tears and snot run down his face. He’s trying to say something through the gag, but it comes out as muffled nonsense.
I signal Afon. He yanks the gag down.
“Please!” the man wails. “Please, I’ll tell you everything. I’ll tell you whatever you want.”
“That’s what you said an hour ago.” I crouch in front of him. “And then you lied to me.”
“You told me you hadn’t spoken to anyone. That was a lie.” I reach out to grab his face. He shies away, but there’s nowhere for him to go. I squeeze his cheeks in my hand as I turn his head this way and that.
He’s pale and shivering beneath my touch, probably from the blood loss. But his eyes still have the brightness that says he’s retained his presence of mind. He’s here. He’s awake.
“Let’s start from the beginning,”
