“Because I saved your life.”
Naomi stared.
“When?”
“That night.”
“What happened?”
“You were shot.”
“I know.”
“You fell.”
“I know.”
“Atlas attacked the shooter.”
Naomi looked down.
Atlas's ears moved.
Daniel's voice cracked.
“You told me to take Atlas and run.”
“And you?”
“I stayed.”
“Why?”
“Because you couldn't walk.”
Naomi closed her eyes.
“What happened after?”
“You lost consciousness.”
“Then?”
“I got you out.”
“Where?”
“A safe house.”
“Then?”
“You woke up three days later.”
Naomi's breathing changed.
“And?”
“You looked at me.”
Daniel wiped his face.
“You didn't remember me.”
She stared.
“I asked who you were.”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell me?”
“That I was Daniel.”
“Your real name?”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
“What was my name?”
“You couldn't remember.”
Naomi shook her head.
“But I knew my own name.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You didn't.”
“I don't remember that.”
“I know.”
Daniel looked at Atlas.
“You remembered him.”
The dog stared back.
“You knew Atlas.”
Naomi knelt beside him.
Her hands moved through his fur.
Something inside her chest loosened.
A memory surfaced.
A younger Atlas.
A blue door.
Her hand on his collar.
A voice saying, “Stay.”
Then gunfire.
She stood abruptly.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Naomi—”
“Don't touch me.”
He stopped.
She looked at him.
“You said I asked for my memory to be erased.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you believed Northstar had been compromised.”
“By whom?”
Daniel swallowed.
“You.”
Naomi stared.
“What?”
“You thought you were the leak.”
Silence.
Daniel continued.
“You believed someone had accessed your memories, your contacts, your operational knowledge.”
“And you agreed to erase it?”
“I didn't make the decision.”
“Who did?”
“Vance.”
Naomi froze.
“Thomas Vance?”
Daniel nodded.
“He was your handler.”
“My handler?”
“Yes.”
She stepped back.
“And he told me what?”
“That you had to forget.”
“Why?”
“Because you knew too much.”
Naomi looked toward the window.
The sky was still bright.
The world outside remained ordinary.