Tobias, Brody, and I pull up in front of the Merciless Mart in Candor about 15 minutes before Brody's informal interrogation under truth serum is set to begin. Even though I have complete confidence that he did absolutely nothing wrong, this will let us know for sure, unless he's Divergent and can fight the truth serum but that seems unlikely to me. Tobias arranged for Purple-Hair and Snake-Tattoo to pick up Ana just after we left the training room and escort her here via train. She should arrive just before his interview gets underway, and I will admit I'm looking forward to seeing what it is that those two are hiding. The drive over was quiet and awkward. Brody broodingly stared out the window the entire time not saying a word, and because of his sour mood, Tobias and I didn't talk much either.
"Are you ready for this?" Tobias asks Brody after we get out of the car.
"I don't know," he says.
"Let me give you some advice," I say. "Four and I both have been where you're standing. Don't fight the serum. Answer immediately. If you stall for whatever reason…"
"You'll feel like you're on fire," Tobias finishes for me, looking at his watch. "We better get inside." We go through the large glass door and walk into the well-lit lobby.
"Beatrice?" I turn toward the sound of my name and find Peter's mother, Ruth, sitting behind the reception desk with a warm smile on her face. She looks a lot different than she did the last time I saw her. She's no longer the beaten down, timid woman she once was. There's an air of newly found confidence about her. It's showcased in the sharp business suit she's wearing and the shorter pixie cut in her shiny red hair. She looks like a brand new woman.
"Ruth, how nice to see you again," I say.
"It's so nice to see you," she says, getting up from her seat and walking around the desk. "You are just glowing. How are you and the baby doing?" For all the unforgivably cruel things that Peter did to me, he was just as heartless to his mother. To give her the hopes of having a grandchild when he knew it wasn't true is inexcusable.
"We're both doing very well," I say, returning her hug. "I'm getting closer to my due date. Only 11½ weeks to go."
"I hate to interrupt but we have an interrogation to get to," Tobias says not unkindly. We both know that Ruth had nothing to do with Peter's deception. "We don't want to be late."
"Of course. When I saw you, I wanted to make sure I said hello," she says. "I go to lunch at noon. If you're still here and would like to join me, I'll be in the cafeteria."
"Thank you for the invitation," I say. "We'll have to see how the interviews go. It was nice seeing you."
"Interviews?" Brody asks as we walk over to the elevators. I wondered if he would catch that slip.
"Yes," I say. "There will be two truth serum interrogations today." We step onto the elevator, and I hit the button for the third floor.
"Does it have anything to do with Sam's death?"
"I don't think so but we don't really know," I say. "Once the interviews are concluded, I'm confident we'll have some answers." I hope. We step off the elevator, and Tobias expertly leads us through the identical-looking monochromatic hallways like he belongs here to Dauntless' holding room, which is empty. "Go ahead and take a seat on the bench, Brody. We'll be starting shortly."
"If it's okay with you, I think I'll stand," he says, looking very nervous. I get dizzy watching him pace from corner to corner.
"You should sit down, love," Tobias says just as the door squeaks open, which makes all three of us turn and look.
"Hello, Four," Jack says as he walks into the holding room flanked by Niles and an unfamiliar short, wide, auburn-haired man. They each shake Tobias' hand then Jack looks my way. "You're looking well, Tris. When are you due again?"
"October 9," I say as my hands automatically cover my swollen abdomen.
"You're in the home stretch then," he says. "I remember those days well with my wife. Enjoy each day to the fullest. With three kids 2 and under, you probably won't sleep again for a while after the baby comes."
"Thanks for the advice, Jack," I say.
"Anytime," he says then he turns our attention to the stranger in the room. "I would like to introduce you to Kent Nelson, Candor's newest leader." He stares at us like he's sizing us up then gives us an impassive smile. "Kent, this is Four and Tris, two of Dauntless' leaders."
"It's nice to meet you," he says.
"I had planned to view the interrogation but Kent and I have some business to attend to so I'm going to leave you in Niles capable hands," Jack says. "Since Tori requested an informal interrogation, you may ask the questions once Niles administers the serum." He shakes Tobias' hand again then slaps him on the back amiably. "If you need anything at all from me, please don't hesitate to have Niles give me a call. Although I have other business to take care of, I'm still available if need be."
"We appreciate you allowing us to do this informally, Jack," I say. "If we need you, we'll be sure to let Niles know."
"Okay," he says. "Well, we'll be leaving you now." We watch Jack and Kent leave the holding room then turn our attention to Brody. I really don't want to start Brody's interview until Ana is here but we might have to. When the door sounds again, Brody's face falls and I know that she's here now.
"Thanks, Simon, Tony," Tobias says. "You can go back to Dauntless. We'll bring Ana back with us."
"What's she doing here?" Brody nervously asks. "She doesn't have anything to do with this. Why is she here? Why are you here, Ana?"
"I have no idea, Brody," she softly says, obviously embarrassed. "Not two minutes after you left with Four and Tris the big guys came in and marched me out of the training room and brought me here but they wouldn't tell me why."
"You two are keeping a secret," I say, "and we want to know what it is. There's something you need to know about us, we don't like being lied to. Ana, you will be going under truth serum this morning also." Her eyes widen as I talk but then she almost looks relieved. I wonder what that's about.
"Brody, please sit down on the bench," Tobias says. "Once the serum is administered you won't be able to stand."
"Everyone keeps saying this is informal, why's that?" he grumbles as he sits down on the low bench. "It doesn't seem that way to me." I thought his mood was bad before but it's gotten far worse since Ana was brought in.
"I can answer that," Niles says while he slowly paces in front of him, arrogant as ever. "First of all, we wouldn't be here in Dauntless' holding room; we would be in the interrogation room in front of an audience consisting of members from all five factions. Secondly, I would be the one asking the questions instead of Four and Tris."
"O … kay," he says.
"Is everyone ready to begin?" Niles asks and we all nod. I notice that Brody's determined air is back, and Ana is looking close to panic. I wonder what we'll learn from these two and what they'll learn about each other. I hope they truly are ready. "Alright then." Niles puts the small black box he has tucked under his arm down on the bench beside Brody, fishes out an alcohol swab, and hands it to him. Brody looks back at him confused. "Please use that to sterilize the left side of your neck." Brody tears open the small square package, takes the alcohol-soaked pad out, and thoroughly wipes off the side of his neck. Niles lifts one of the two large syringes out of the box, places it against Brody's neck, and presses the plunger sending the serum into his body. Just like with every other person, he slumps against the wall within a minute. "He's all yours, Four."
"Thanks, Niles," he says. "Brody, even though this is an informal interrogation, we're going to keep the questions formal. I need you to state your full name for me."
"Brody Alan Adams." He looks up at Tobias with the typical confusion on his face.
"Where were you born?" Tobias asks.
"I was born in Erudite," he says, surprising us all.
"You were born in Erudite?" I ask, unable to hide my shock.
"Yes," he says.
"When did you become factionless?" I ask.
"My mom was kicked out of Erudite just before my fifth birthday, and we became factionless."
"What are your parents' names?" Tobias asks.
"Brenda Adams is my mother's name," he says. "Clark Adams is my stepfather's name." He pauses and cringes at the same time. "I don't know my birth father's name. She never told me. I begged but she wouldn't tell me."
"When did you meet Faith?"
"Mom took me to meet her on my fifth birthday," Brody says. "We instantly became best friends. We stayed with her and her mom from then on, a family of sorts."
"What made you join Dauntless?" he asks.
"I remember what it was like to live in a faction." He pauses and his face contorts with pain. "I was angry at my mom for making me factionless. I liked living in Erudite. When I found out that the council was allowing factionless 16 year olds to go through the choosing process I actually got excited. I talked Faith into doing it with me. I was surprised when we both tested with the aptitude for Dauntless. That's what made me join Dauntless."
"Did you kill Sam?" Tobias asks.
"No. I did not."
"Do you know who killed Sam?"
"No," he replies.
"Were you surprised to find out that Sam was murdered?" he asks.
"Yes," Brody says. "She didn't deserve that."
"Where did you go after you left our apartment the morning Sam was killed?" Tobias asks.
"I went to the net."
"Were you with anyone?" Brody grimaces when he pauses again, and he starts shaking his head.
"Just tell them, Brody," Ana says from the end of the bench. He turns his head in the direction of her voice but his eyes don't focus on her.
"Ana, please don't interrupt," I say.
"I was with Ana," he says, blowing out the breath he was holding.
"Why did you tell us you were alone at the net?" he asks.
"I was protecting her," Brody says. "I thought I might have run out of chances and that you were going to send me back to the factionless sector. As much of a pain in the ass Ana is, I didn't want to get her into trouble. I don't think she would survive on the streets." She gasps at his words, although I'm not entirely sure why. It could be the announcement that he thinks she's a pain in the ass or the fact that he wanted to protect her. Tobias looks at me.
"I think we have everything we need from him," I say.
"So do I," he says then looks at Niles. "Do you have any other questions for him?"
"Not unless you want to ask him what his greatest regret is."
"My biggest regret is not protecting Faith. You see, it wasn't Sam's fault that Faith died; it was mine," Brody says surprising us once again. We all know that her death was an unfortunate accident that was unavoidable. "She was having headaches, but I didn't insist she go to the doctor. If I had, she might still be with me today. It wasn't Sam's fault. It was mine."
"Niles, do you have the antidote?" I ask. He nods and retrieves it from the black box then administers it to Brody. Immediately his eyes clear then he looks guilty.
"Ana, it's your turn," I say.
"Does she have to?" Brody asks.
"I'm afraid so," Tobias says. "We need her to corroborate your story under truth serum. Let this be a lesson to always tell us the truth in the future. If you had done that in the first place then all of this might not have been necessary."
"Ana, I'm sure you could tell by Brody's actions that the truth serum can be quite brutal," I say. "I'll give you the same advice I gave him. Don't fight its effects and answer immediately. If you follow these instructions, you shouldn't feel the adverse effects. Okay?"
"It's okay, Tris," she says. "I know about truth serum even though I've never been subjected to it. It honestly is one of the reasons I left Candor." Sometimes I forget she grew up here. She doesn't have the same cutthroat nature most ex-Candor have. I can tell she's trying to be brave but her whole body is trembling. I take a step closer to her and put my hand on her shoulder.
"You'll be just fine," I say. "Just take a couple deep breaths then we'll get started. I've been where you're standing. You can do this." I squeeze her shoulder in a show of confidence then step back to Tobias' side. She takes a couple deep breaths while she nervously watches Brody as he totally comes out from under the effects of the serum.
"I'm ready," she says.
"Okay," I say. "Niles." He picks up an alcohol swab and hands it to Ana. She sweeps her long dark auburn hair over her right shoulder, exposing the left side of her neck then wipes it off with the little pad. She tosses the trash in the small bin Niles holds up in front of her then wrings her hands together nervously. Niles injects the truth serum into her neck then turns the floor over to us.
"Ana, I need you to state your full name for me," Tobias says.
"Ana Marie Latham."
"What faction were you born in?"
"Candor," she says, typical confusion evident on her face.
"What faction did you choose?" he asks.
"Dauntless," Ana proudly says.
"What are your parents' names?" Tobias asks.
"James and Sandra Latham." She sounds wistful when she says their names.
"What is your relationship with Brody?"
"Um," she says. When she pauses, she doesn't seem to be in any pain; she just seems to be even more confused than she was before. "We don't have a relationship."
"Are you friends?" he asks.
"Not yet but I hope to be," Ana quietly says, embarrassment showing on her red face.
"Why were you with Brody after curfew the night Faith died first outside the compound and then later at the net when you knew these actions could cause you to be thrown out of Dauntless?" I ask.
"I know what he's going through, and he shouldn't be alone right now," she says, a sadness to her voice. "He needs friends right now more than ever."
"What do you mean you know what I'm going through?" Brody interjects.
"I lost my twin sister, Ava, almost three years ago. She was sick for a very long time. I was lost for so long after she died. I felt like a huge part of me was missing. Honestly, I still feel that way some days. I shut everyone out: my parents, my friends, those who were trying desperately to help me. It took a long time for me to realize that Ava wouldn't want me to stop living just because she did."
"Brody, please don't interrupt again," Tobias says. "Ana, why did you follow Brody outside Monday night?"
"I recognized myself in Brody when he learned about Faith's death. I didn't care about the consequences, I just wanted to help him."
"Why didn't you go back to the dorms when Four and I told you to?" I ask.
"He might not know it but he needs me," she says, blushing again. She hasn't said it outright but she likes him.
"Let's take this a different direction," Tobias says. "What was your relationship with Sam?"
"We grew up together," she says. "I've known her my entire life but we weren't exactly friends."
"Where were you when Sam died?" he asks.
"I don't know," Ana says.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Tobias asks.
"I don't know when she died so I can't tell you where I was." Makes sense.
"She died between the hours of 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning," I say.
"I was with Brody at the net," she says.
"Did you kill Sam?" Tobias asks.
"No, I did not," Ana emphatically says, sounding affronted.
"Do you know who killed her?" he asks.
"No." Strange. Her denial sounds a little off.
"Do you have a theory as to who might have wanted her dead?" I ask.
"You might want to talk to Jesse and Grant. They seemed to have it in for her." Tobias and I look at each other. The bitch's minions? Does she have something to do this? Why? I saw very little interaction between Sam and Olivia, Grant, and Jesse.
"Why do you say that?"
"I really don't have any details. They just seemed to hate her with a passion. I could be wrong though. I don't want to get anyone in trouble who doesn't deserve it."
"Thank you for your honesty, Ana," Tobias says. "Any questions, Niles?"
"No, Four," he says.
"You can administer the anti-serum," he says. We watch as he brings Ana back then Tobias turns his back on everyone and looks down at me. "Would you like to have lunch with Ruth?"
"I don't know," I say. "I really like her but…"
"She reminds you of him," he says, finishing my sentence.
"Yeah," I say. "Even though I feel bad for her, she was his victim, too, I see him in her, and I really don't want to be reminded of Peter Hayes. I've just gotten to the point where things don't remind me of him on a daily basis. I can actually walk into the training room and feel comfortable. I don't want that peace taken away from me."
"You don't have to explain," he says. "I understand. If you don't want to see her or are not ready yet, then don't. I just thought you looked pleased to see her."
"I like her," I admit. "I really, really like her. I was happy when I saw her. She's always treated me well but it doesn't change things. Not yet."
"I'm sorry I brought it up," he says.
"Don't apologize. It's okay," I say lightly touching his arm. "I think we should get back to Dauntless. If we leave now, we can have a quick lunch and then have these two back for the afternoon in the training room."
"Sounds like a plan," he says then he turns back around and looks at Brody and Ana who are sitting about as far apart as the bench will allow. I think they're both embarrassed by some of the details revealed here today. "Let's go, you two. When we get back to Dauntless, we'll grab some lunch then head to the training room for fight training. There's another round of practice fights tomorrow that you need to prepare for."
"Thank you, Niles, for the assistance today," I say, holding my hand out to him. He takes it, and we shake amiably. "We appreciate it."
"It was no problem," he stiffly says. "It was nice seeing you again." Something tells me he just doesn't mean that.
"Come on, Tris," Tobias says, gently placing his hand on my sore back and leading me out into the hallway. I make a quick stop at the bathroom that sits just off the elevator and silently wish that we didn't have anyone with us. There's just something about Candor bathrooms. We make it out of the Merciless Mart without running into Ruth so I don't have to make up an excuse as to why we're leaving.
I watch Brody and Ana as they're quietly talking in the backseat of our car. They seem to have a newfound closeness, sharing a bond not many others have experienced. Callen knows what Brody's going through right now, too, but it isn't my place to share that with them.
"Why didn't you say anything about your sister, Ana?" I ask.
"I think about her a lot but talking about her hurts," she says. "So I tried to leave that pain in Candor with my old life."
"We always carry pieces of our old life into our new whether we mean to or not," I say.
"Said like a transfer," Brody says, obviously fishing for information.
"Yes, I was a transfer," I say but I don't elaborate as to where I came from. I'm entitled to my secrets. After I'm quiet for a while, they know I'm not going to say anymore, and we have a silent ride back to Dauntless.