Leonard answered Ethan's question with a cold look. "You killed Conrad. That's like cutting off one of my arms. You also made me lose face. Of course I wasn't going to let you find them that easily."
"You think I'd believe that?" Ethan snorted, then glanced at Skinny Pete. "Ask him."
"Yeah." Skinny Pete looked Lucas in the eye again. "Why did you swap them out? What was the goal?"
"I don't know," Lucas said woodenly. "Uncle Leonard probably wanted to… stall for time."
"Why stall?"
"Maybe he wanted to… live… specimens…"
"Shut up!" Leonard suddenly bellowed.
That roar hit Lucas like a whip. The fear that had been hammered into him for years surged up, and his face twisted in resistance.
"I don't know! I don't know anything!" Lucas shook his head violently, struggling harder and harder.
Skinny Pete frowned and increased the pressure of [Enthrallment].
Lucas's struggle abruptly stopped.
He tilted his head at Skinny Pete, broke into a stupid grin, and started giggling.
