Free The Inquisitor's Mark by Dianne K. Salerni Page B

agreed. “It’s gotta be.”
    â€œWhy? What’s the Dulac talent?” Jax asked.
    Everyone stared at Jax like he didn’t know the name of the U.S. president. “Dulacs can change a person’s memory,” Mrs. Crandall said.
    â€œLike Miller Owens?” Miller had been one of Riley’s vassals working undercover among their enemies, and Jax had experienced firsthand the unpleasantness of having Miller’s memories stuffed into his head. Specifically the memory of pain.
    â€œNo,” said A.J. “Miller could insert memories, but you knew they weren’t your own. The Dulacs can change what you remember and believe. They can change who you are, practically.”
    Jax felt a chill throughout his body. “I gotta call Billy,”he said to Mr. Crandall.
    Mr. Crandall looked around the room unhappily. He was used to sharing his opinion—loudly and repeatedly. But Riley usually decided what was right for the clan, and that wasn’t going to happen today. “Go ahead,” he said finally.
    Jax entered Billy’s number into the computer. After several rings, a familiar voice answered. “Yeah?”
    â€œBilly? It’s Jax.”
    â€œJax? This isn’t your number.”
    â€œI’m calling from my email. Are you okay?”
    â€œFrom your email? Cool! I’ve never tried—”
    â€œBilly, are you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine. But I’m so mad at you! A secret day of the week? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    â€œWhere are you? Were you kidnapped or not? Who’s got you?”
    â€œI’m in New York City, and, well, I was sort of kidnapped. But it’s not that bad. They explained why they needed me, and I agreed to go with them. This is so cool!”
    Mr. Crandall made a twirly gesture next to his head.
    Jax wasn’t sure. This sounded pretty normal for Billy. “Who are they ?”
    â€œYour relatives.”
    â€œMy cousin Naomi kidnapped you?” Maybe Mr. Crandall was right.
    â€œNo. The relatives on your dad’s side.”
    Coldness swept through Jax’s body again. “I don’t have any relatives on my dad’s side.”
    â€œYeah you do. That’s why we want to get you on a video call. Because they need to show you their tattoos. And they want to see yours.”
    Mr. Crandall yelled some more about what a terrible idea this was. Shouting seemed to make him feel better about being stuck with the final decision. “Arnie,” his wife quietly interjected into his tirade, “we need to know for certain who has the boy. If he was kidnapped, it’s because of us. We’re responsible for what happens to him.”
    Mr. Crandall muttered unhappy words under his breath and pointed his finger in Tegan’s face. “Are you sure ? And don’t bother telling me about proxy port decryptions.”
    Tegan cringed at his mangled terms. “Not even the government could trace this call,” she assured him. “Maybe, if they put all their resources on it, they could track the connection over six months. But only if it was in constant use.”
    â€œKeep it short then,” Mr. Crandall barked.
    Thomas laughed. “Less than six months, Jax. Got it?”
    A.J. and his father rearranged the furniture so Jax could sit in front of a blank wall that gave no clue to his location. Jax stood off to the side and watched.
    His dad had lied to him. Outright, barefaced lies.
    There was a lot of stuff his dad had failed to tell him—such as what the tattoo on his wrist meant. Or how Jax had a 50 percent chance of being a Transitioner. He’d never mentioned his life was in danger, or that he’d signed custody of Jax over to a stranger in the event of his death. Jax had spent months fuming over all those untold truths. But because he’d learned that his father had wanted to protect Evangeline, he’d slowly been getting over it.
    Now there were lies