I could have sworn that I just heard Drew confirm under truth serum that someone other than Molly came up with the plan that is wreaking havoc on our lives right now. But whose plan could it be? Drew? No, he's too stupid. Olivia? Seems doubtful that she would target anyone other than me. Ethan? I know he wanted Tyler and Tessa back but killing my friends seems like an unreasonable way to achieve that. Ruth? Please, please, please don't let it be her. Marcus? He seems like the most likely candidate, although how would he even know who Molly and Drew were to set up a scheme like this. I find myself holding my breath waiting for who the culprit is.
"Let me get this straight, Drew," Tobias sternly says, "you're telling us that Molly isn't the mastermind behind the plan that's left three Dauntless members dead, including a leader and two others injured."
"She's not smart enough," he blurts then his eyes widen and his cheeks flood with color. I think that was a truth he didn't realize he held.
"If it wasn't Molly then who was it?" I can tell Drew doesn't want to answer. He fights hard against the serum, his face twisting in pain but then he hangs his head and groans.
"It was Porter." Porter? That son of a bitch. Why? How? I never thought that this would cross my mind but I think Porter Hayes is worse than his son and that is saying a lot.
"You're telling me that Peter Hayes' father is the one who came up with the plan?" he asks.
"Yes," Drew says, looking crestfallen. I think the serum has finally gotten the best of him.
"How is that possible? He's been in lockdown for months now."
"Niles let us in to see him a few times, and he passed messages back and forth for us," he says and Jack mutters an expletive under his breath. I know how he feels. It's hard to learn that someone you trust completely stabbed you in the back.
"I need you to start from the very beginning and tell me every detail you know of how Porter's plan came to life," Tobias says. I knew after learning he helped his son kidnap me that he was evil personified. What kind of person would do that? And now all this. He must really hate me.
"One week after Porter was sentenced to jail, Molly and I received a message from him. It instructed us to dress in Candor black and white and go to the faction long-term holding cells just after sundown for an important meeting. We contemplated not going. We thought it might be a joke or an elaborate rouse to get us into trouble but her curiosity won out so we decided to hedge our bets and we went. When we got to the holding cell area, we were surprised that Niles was the one who greeted us." I see Tobias pull the notebook out of his pocket and jot something down while Drew rattles on. "He took us to Porter's cell and waited with us, making it look like it was a legitimate visit. Porter wasted no time in explaining what it was he wanted, Tris Prior's total destruction. He explained that Tris was the one responsible for Peter's death, which Molly and I already suspected." I shake my head at their stupidity. "He made it perfectly clear he wanted her dead, too, but first he wanted her to suffer unimaginable pain. That's when he laid out his plan.
"The first phase was to contact a woman at Erudite who gave us a formula for a new serum. She also gave Molly the codes to the door closest to the serum vault so we could sneak in and steal the necessary samples from storage but I don't remember her name. She doesn't like Stiffs and was eager to help when she heard the serum would be used against one of the traitors who stopped the war on Abnegation." Typical Jeanine lackey. They just keep popping up. It's too bad we can't eradicate them all. "The second phase was for us to infiltrate Dauntless and get around undetected, which we easily accomplished for weeks. No one looked at us twice … until Sam saw us talking with Lauren that morning. The third phase was to enlist people to help us. Dauntless members were preferred because of their close proximity to you and Tris but anyone who was willing to help was okay. Lauren took some convincing but Olivia jumped at the chance to ruin Tris the minute we asked her. She hates her nearly as much as Molly does, maybe even more so. The final phase was targeting those closest to Tris. We were to start with her colleagues and friends then move on to her extended family and finally you and the kids. He wanted her to have to live with the guilt of knowing all those people lost their lives because of her before she was our final victim." My eyes shift to Tobias, and he's already staring at me. I wish I was standing next to him, our hands linked. I think my father senses my need or gets some sort of unseen sign from my husband because he slides over next to me and offers his hand, which I grip tightly between mine, ignoring the ache in my palm.
"You obviously didn't complete phase four to Porter's specifications," Tobias says. "Why was the timetable for the plan moved up?"
"That stupid Ian Beck or whatever his name is from Abnegation went and got himself arrested Sunday afternoon. I've never seen Molly more pissed off than I did that day. Olivia shared the entire plan with him, and Molly was afraid that he would spill the beans so she arranged with Niles a little one-on-one time with him in the Abnegation holding room and gave him the serum."
"Was Tris your intended target Sunday night?" he asks, his voice rough, ragged yet quiet. I see Drew flinch then swallow past his fear before he answers.
"You all were," Drew says. "But she was the ultimate target. She was to get the death serum, which I gave her. She should be dead." He turns his head toward me, probably unable to make me out in his altered condition and says, "You should be dead. I don't know how you are alive, especially after the crazy red head stabbed you. Of course, I'm not sure how I'm alive after Four shot me." I see Tobias roll his hands up into tight fists, his knuckles turning white from the exertion then close his eyes. It's hard hearing what their plans were for that night, especially the children. I think if we were alone in this room, I would gladly kill him.
"Four, would you like me to continue?" Jack eventually asks, finally breaking the long, drawn out silence.
"No," he says. "I just needed a moment." Yeah, a moment to collect himself so he didn't choke the life out of that scum lying in the hospital bed in front of him. "My apologies."
"Take your time," Kent Nelson says. I could be wrong but I think I misjudged him just because he's the bitch's father.
"Did you know Niles before this?" Tobias asks.
"Everyone in Candor knows who he is but he isn't a family friend or anything. I have no idea why he so willingly helped us." We'll find out, that's for sure.
"Where is Molly?" he asks.
"I don't know," Drew says.
"Where is Olivia?" He shakes his head.
"I don't know," he sighs.
"Was Ruth Hayes ever a part of your plan?" Tobias asks.
"No. We wanted to recruit her but she's attached to Tris. We knew she would never go for it so we didn't even bother to ask." Thank God! I don't think I could handle a betrayal by her.
"Has anyone else from any faction helped you that we have not talked about yet?" he asks.
"There's a fence worker named Marty Turner who helped us get to an abandoned building on the outskirts of Amity. He's a friend of Lauren's," Drew says. I forgot about him. Looks like he has a factionless future to look forward to. "You already know about Olivia, that Buck guy from Abnegation, and Lauren. Molly and me. That's all I know about." I think I half expected to hear Marcus' name mentioned somewhere along the way. I'm surprised by how disappointed I am that his act isn't an act after all.
"There are some things I want clarified for my own peace of mind." He takes a deep breath before he continues. "Who stabbed Edward in the eye?"
"Peter did," he says.
"Did you help him?" Tobias asks. He fights answering this question the longest, gritting his teeth and wincing again and again.
"Yes," he finally spits. "I held him down." A shiver runs through me upon hearing that.
"Did you know what Peter's intentions were the night you attacked Tris at the chasm?" he asks.
"He said he wanted to show her who was boss," Drew says. "I didn't know he was going to touch her and I certainly didn't know he was going to try to push her into the chasm." I hear a gasp when this is revealed but I don't respond. I keep my eyes on Drew.
"If you had known, would you have told him that you wouldn't participate?"
"Probably not," he says. "I never told him no." He's never told anyone no.
"Did you have any part in Tris' kidnapping by Peter?" Tobias asks.
"Yes, I helped him move her from Dauntless to Candor." I unknowingly squeeze Dad's hand then whimper as pain shoots through my palm, up my forearm, and into my shoulder. I don't like that this subject is being broached. As much as I like to think that I've put that terrible time behind me, it still stars in my nightmares. I know it wasn't my fault but I still feel horribly guilty that I was with another man. Isobel calls it a form of survivor's guilt. I work on those feelings daily. I will Tobias to look my way and when he does, I shake my head once begging him to stop this line of questioning and he nods, understanding.
"Can you tell me what it is that you personally have against Tris Prior?" he instead asks. Confusion floods Drew's features as he considers the question but there appears to be no pain.
"Nothing." Hmph. He helped the man who emotionally tortured me, molested me, tried to kill me, kidnapped me, and then raped me but I'm okay in his book. I'm not sure I believe that. He's spewed hate at me in the past. Something tickles at the edges of my memory. Hasn't he? I quickly run through my interactions with Drew Boyd and am surprised by what I find. No, he's never raised his voice to me once. He's just went along with whatever Peter and Molly planned. Ruth told me he was a follower. I don't think she knows the half of it.
"That's all the questions I have for you," Tobias says. "Jack, do you have any additional questions for the prisoner?"
"I do," he says as he gets up. "Drew, we ask this question of everyone who goes under truth serum. What is your biggest regret?"
"My biggest regret?" he mumbles. "I regret that I'm not my own person. Everything I've done these past few months, hell my entire life, has been at someone else's request." We all think he's done but he turns his head and looks my way. "Tris, I don't hate you. If I'm telling the absolute truth – and since I'm under truth serum you know that I am - I'm sort of indifferent to you. I could have cared less that you jumped first or beat Molly unconscious. I didn't even mind that it appeared you started dating Four before initiation was over then placed first. But these were things that really mattered to Peter and Molly … Peter because he was jealous of Four and Molly because, well, she's jealous of you. I'm just weak and never learned to say no. I'm sorry for my part in all this. If I had it to do all over, it probably wouldn't change a thing because a leopard never changes its spots and neither do I. That's all I have to say."
"Thank you for your Candor," the Candor members say in unison. Tobias crosses the room and kneels in front of me.
"I want to go back to my room," I quietly say. "I don't feel very well but I think we need to have a talk with Jack. Can you have him meet us?"
"Okay, love," he says. "I'll be right back." He kisses my forehead as he gets up then goes across the room and touches Jack's shoulder.
"Thanks for sitting with me, Dad," I say.
"You don't have to thank me, Beatrice," he says. "You may not live under my roof anymore but you will always be my little girl. I hate how these people view you and I hate that they keep hurting you." He hugs me tightly for a second. "How are you doing with all this?"
"It isn't easy hearing what they had planned, especially for my kids. What kind of animal plans on hurting an innocent child? It makes me that much more motivated to get Molly and Olivia into custody and learn the entire truth." I slide my eyes to Tobias and after a short conversation with Jack, I see them shake hands then he starts back toward me.
"Are you ready to go?" he asks.
"I am," I say. "Thanks again, Dad. I'll see you later. Bye, Caleb."
"Goodbye, Beatrice," Dad says as Caleb says, "I'll see you later." Tobias wheels the chair towards the door then pushes me out into the quiet hallway.
"How are you really doing, love?"
"I don't really know," I murmur. "I have so many conflicting emotions running through me at the moment but I don't know which is dominant. That was a lot to take in, and we still don't know everything."
"We may not know everything but we know a hell of a lot more than we did before," he says.
"I don't understand why everyone hates me," I mutter under my breath as irrational tears gather in my eyes.
"No one hates you."
"Yes, they do," I say, emotion thick in my voice. He wheels me into my room and up next to my bed. He stops then kneels down in front of me again. He cups my face between his strong hands and gently wipes the wetness away with his calloused thumbs then moves his mouth to mine for a slow, tender kiss.
"Everyone who matters loves you. You are quite extraordinary," he says as he runs his hands up and into my hair. I think he's going to kiss me again but his look changes from one of love and adoration to one of pure hatred. "Everyone else can go to hell and, believe me, by the time all of this is over, I'm going to personally see to it that Porter, Molly, Drew, Lauren, and Olivia each receive a one way ticket. Now let's get you into bed." He positioned the wheelchair so all I have to do is stand, turn, and then sit on the bed. It's not as comfy as my big bed at home but right now it's so much better than the wheelchair. Once I'm situated, I reach my hand out and take his.
"Please hold me. I need you, Tobias," I say. He lies down beside me and gathers me up in his arms. I immediately feel safe and loved … I feel home. I slide my hand under the hem of his t-shirt and rest it on his bare abdomen. At first he tenses but he soon relaxes under my touch. I need the physical, skin-on-skin contact. "I'd give anything if you could make love to me right now. It would make me feel so much better."
"I was just thinking the same thing," he roughly says. I tilt my chin up, seeking his lips and he doesn't waste any time fulfilling my wishes. Our lips first move slowly, tenderly together but after he thrusts his tongue into the confines of my mouth, the kiss deepens becoming eager, passionate. He tightens his grip on me, and I moan, unfortunately, with pain. He pulls his lips from mine, panting raggedly. There's remorse in his eyes as he leans up and kisses my temple. I close my eyes and relish the feel of his arms around me as we let our breathing normalize.
"We need to find another stress reliever," I chuckle then wince.
"Yes we do but right now I think you need some pain medication," Tobias says as he pushes the button on the bed. We chat and within two minutes Zander walks in.
"I didn't realize Drew's interrogation was already over," he says. "What can I do for you, Tris?"
"I think my pain meds have worn off," I say. "Everything hurts." He looks at my chart and then his watch.
"It's actually past time for a dose," he says. I watch as he unlocks a cupboard on the wall and take out a vial of liquid then he takes a packaged syringe out of one of the drawers. He measures out a dose then inserts it into the port on my IV. "This will help you rest."
"Thank you, Zander," Tobias and I say at the same time.
"I'll be back to check on you later," he says just as a knock sounds on the door.
"That should be Jack," Tobias says as he extricates himself from my embrace and sure enough the leader of Candor sticks his head into the room.
"I hope this isn't a bad time," he says.
"No, your timing is perfect," Tobias says.
"The doctor just gave me pain medication so I might not be lucid much longer, and I think we have a few things to discuss. Four, can you ask Dad to join us. I'd like a representative of the council to hear this."
"Alright," he says, furrowing his brows then he heads out the door. He's wondering what's going through my mind.
"I'm sorry, Tris," Jack says after a minute of awkward silence. "I'm questioning my leadership skills upon learning of Niles betrayal. That's two men I considered a close, personal friend who's betrayed me. I don't know why I didn't see it."
"It doesn't mean you aren't good at what you do, Jack, it only means that he is better at subterfuge. To tell you the truth, I'm not entirely surprised of his involvement. He's never really liked Four or me."
"I'm beginning to see that myself," he says as Tobias walks into the room, closely followed by my dad.
"Beatrice, honey, are you okay?" he asks when he reaches my bedside, worry evident on his face. I think hearing Porter's plan has adversely affected him, too.
"I'm tired," I say, "so we better get down to business before I pass out." Everyone chuckles thinking it's a joke but I'm dead serious. I'm emotionally exhausted, which is taking a greater toll on my body. "I gathered you all here for two reasons. The first is I want to attend each interrogation. I think that it's my right as the motivation behind these crimes to be present to hear the answers. Jack, we have a large space here in the compound that can be used for public interviews. Do you have a problem with performing the truth serum interrogations here?"
"That's never been done before, Tris, but since Dauntless and its members are the main victims, I don't see a problem with it. I would need to tour the space before I make a decision though. I'm sure you understand."
"I'll have Will escort you to the auditorium when we're finished," Tobias says. It always amazes me how similar our thought process is. He knew exactly what I was talking about.
"The next thing I want to talk about is punishments, and that's why I wanted my father present," I say. "We keep making more and more people factionless, and I'm beginning to think that isn't the best form of punishment. I've been thinking about something for a while. When someone breaks the law it seems like there are only two forms of punishment: Death or becoming factionless. Sometimes the crime, in my opinion, doesn't warrant a death sentence but becoming factionless, with or without memory serum seems like a slap on the wrist. What if we created a work detail? There are so many parts of this city in disrepair. Why not put these criminals to work for a good cause?" Tobias, Jack, and Dad look at one another and then at me.
"I like the idea," Dad says. "But how would we keep them from just running off?"
"We would have to hammer out the details but I suggest a color of their very own for starters. Purple or maybe orange. They would work in small groups guarded by groups of two or three Dauntless patrol. Since policing the factionless sector was discontinued, which I think was a mistake, we have more than enough personnel guarding the fence. They can be reassigned. Might I also suggest a color of their own for the factionless? I could be paranoid but too many times over the past year they've been using our generosity against us by getting complete color coordinated outfits from the redistribution center or each other and entering factions undetected. Obviously, we as leaders can't know every single member of our faction but maybe it would be a deterrent for these factionless criminals to try."
"I love how your brain works," Tobias says.
"I have to admit, I like your plan also," Jack says.
"Has anything like this been tried before?" I ask, looking at my father.
"Not that I know of," he says. "I can check the archives then the council will have to discuss the matter."
"I don't expect the city to rush into anything," I say. "I've just been thinking about it for a while now." I yawn widely.
"I think we need to let Tris get some rest," Tobias says as he caresses my cheek. "When will we know about the interrogations?"
"Before I leave today," Jack says. "Tris, I hope you get to feeling better."
"Thank you," I softly say.
"Four, I'll let you know if I have any updates," he says. "I expect the same from you."
"You can count on it," he says. "Let me walk you out."
"Hurry back," I say as my eyes slide shut. The bed jostles, making my eyes open, and I find Tobias staring down at me.
"I didn't mean to wake you," he says.
"I wasn't asleep," I say through a yawn. "I just closed my eyes." He chuckles softly.
"You've been out all evening. You even missed supper," he says. "Are you feeling up for some company? Tyler's getting pretty antsy. He wants to see his Mommy."
"Of course," I say. "I can't believe I was asleep. It doesn't feel like it." He kisses my forehead then says, "I'll be right back." After he walks out the door, I adjust the bed into a sitting position and try to get my bearings. When the door swings open, I'm surprised to find Tobias with Tessa and Teagan in his arms and Tyler walking in front of him holding a small sack.
"Tess and Teags want to see you, too, Mommy," Tyler excitedly says. He climbs up the side of the bed being extremely careful of the sack and straight into my arms. He hugs me tightly and I return the affection with as much fervor as my body will allow at the moment. "I miss you." Suddenly he sounds so sad.
"I've missed you, too, buddy" I say. "I'm sorry I've been asleep so long."
"We go home?" he asks, hopeful.
"I'm not sure when Zander will let Mommy go home," I say. "I think I have to get a little better before he releases me."
"A lot better," Tobias says. I didn't see him lower himself into the chair next to the bed. I reach out and Tessa takes my finger then starts jabbering. "She misses you, too. They all do." A single tear slides down my cheek and Tyler reaches out and wipes it away.
"It otay, Mommy," he says.
"I love you very much," I say. "I love you all very much. I can't wait to get home and get everything back to normal."
"I bwing you sompin," Tyler says with a brilliant smile. He hands me the sack, which I open to find a flattened turkey sandwich, some potato chip crumbs, carrot and celery sticks, and a single chocolate chip cookie.
"Thank you very much," I say. "How did you know I was hungry?"
"You miss eatin'," he says. "You tummy hungwy." He's very perceptive because my stomach is lightly growling. He jabbers while I eat my meal. It may not be in the best of shape but since it was given to me by my son, it might as well be a five course meal. When I unwrap the cookie, he sits up a little straighter, and I know he's dying for a bite.
"You know what? I'm getting full. Would you like to share my cookie with me?" His head bobs up and down eagerly, his eyes bright with excitement. I split the cookie in half and give him the bigger of the two."
"Thanks!" he says.
"Would you like a bite?" I offer Tobias but he declines. I watch as Peanut shoves her fist in her mouth then frowns. "Are you hungry, baby girl?" Tobias looks down at her and smiles.
"She's definitely hungry," he says. "Your mom tried to give her a bottle just before we came in but she wouldn't take it."
"Maybe I should try to give her one," I say as I put the rest of the cookie in my mouth. "She needs to learn to take one. Maybe she would be more willing if it was coming from me." I have Tyler shift down so he's sitting by my legs and Tobias maneuvers Peanut into my arms and she immediately starts rooting at my chest. "I'm going to give you a bottle, Peanut. If Mommy ever plans to go back to work, you need to learn how to take one." Tobias ducks out of the room and returns less than two minutes later with a prepared bottle.
"Here you go, love," he says then sits back down in the chair. After nearly giving up, she finally relents and takes the bottle.
"That's my good girl," I say. "You better slow down or you're going to choke." She stares up at me while I talk to her. I have a lot of questions for Tobias but I don't want to interrupt this family time with our problems so they can wait. Instead I inquire on what my kids have been doing the past three days.
"Who has been taking care of you, Tyler?" I ask.
"Gwamma and Gwampa," he says. "I see Zane fo a little while today."
"He went to daycare during the interrogation," Tobias says. "I thought all three of them by herself would be too much for Natalie. Cara had to go back to Erudite yesterday."
"Are you being good for Grandma and Grandpa?" I ask.
"Yeah. They tell me so."
"Did you have fun with Zane today?"
"I did! We played with blocks and wobots and dinos. It fun! Emma play with us little but Elliott and Mia not thewe."
"Well, I'm glad you had a good time," I say. "Is there something special you want to do before bedtime?"
"Can I stay with you?" he asks, pouting.
"You can stay with Mommy until you go to sleep," Tobias says. "But you'll have to spend the night across the hall because she needs her rest. Okay?"
"Otay!" When Peanut finishes her bottle she promptly falls asleep in my arms. I hold her for a while longer because I've been missing her terribly. After my arm starts throbbing, Tobias takes her and lies her in the portable infant bed Isobel brought in earlier right next to a sleeping Tessa.
"Come here," I say to Tyler and hold my arms out to him. With his father's help, he crawls up the bed and snuggles into my right side, being extremely careful of my wounds. "I like sitting with you like this. We should do it more often."
"I like too," he says.
"Can I join this party?" Tobias asks.
"Otay, Daddy," he says with a yawn. He gently sits on the bed and wraps his arm around me while I run my fingers through Tyler's hair until I realize he's asleep. "Would you like me to move him?"
"No, I want to hold him for a while longer," I say. "He won't always want his Mommy."
"I have a feeling this one will always want you," he says. "He loves you very much. He was about ready to come across the hall earlier if I didn't check on you." I kiss his head and he sighs contentedly.
"Did Jack okay having the interrogations here?" I ask.
"He did. Porter, Niles, and Lauren will be interviewed here tomorrow starting at 10 a.m."
"Good," I say. "I'm glad I get to witness them. I can't help but feel that this is all my fault."
"Tris," he sighs.
"No, hear me out, baby. If I hadn't suggested that Porter sit and stew in prison for six months, living with his misery, none of this would be happening."
"That's just not true," Tobias says. "If it wasn't Porter it would have been someone else pushing Molly and Drew's buttons and talking them into doing their dirty work. He's the killer and they're his weapons."
"I'm not sure I'll ever get over this," I say. "He planned people's murders just because they knew me. What if he had chosen to start with you first or my parents or God forbid one of the kids?"
"I don't want to hear you talk this way, love," he says. "What if's never get a person anywhere. All they do is make you doubt yourself. You didn't do anything wrong. Not when you became the first jumper. Not when you beat Molly. Not when you placed first during initiation. And definitely not when Peter died. This. Is. Not. Your. Fault." He places his lips to mine and kisses me gently then groans as he pulls away. "Neither of us have anything to be ashamed of or guilty about, Tris. We are not the reason Molly and Drew are factionless. We are not the reason Peter is dead. We are not the reason Porter is behind bars. And we are not responsible for the plan cooked up by him and executed by Molly and her minions that killed Sam, Harrison, and Frankie. They made their decisions. They need to be held accountable."
"I know you're right … up here," I touch my head, "but it still hurts here." I touch my heart.
"We'll get through this, love," he says as he kisses my temple.
"I know."