Cars passed.
People walked.
Someone laughed in the parking lot.
Inside the room, her entire history had become uncertain.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Did you love me before I forgot?”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did you love me after?”
“Yes.”
“Did you marry me because I couldn't remember?”
His silence was enough.
Naomi looked at him.
“You did.”
“I married you because I loved you.”
“But you also knew I was missing pieces of my life.”
“Yes.”
“You knew I had a past.”
“Yes.”
“And you kept it from me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You were deciding for me.”
Daniel looked broken.
“Yes.”
Naomi turned away.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Atlas walked to the door.
He stared into the hallway.
His ears rose.
Naomi noticed.
“What is it?”
Atlas began to growl.
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
The growl deepened.
A shadow moved beneath the door.
Naomi's expression changed.
“Daniel.”
“I see it.”
The handle turned.
The door opened.
A man stood outside.
Thomas Vance.
He wore a dark suit.
No federal insignia.
No visible credential.
Naomi stared.
“You.”
Vance looked at Daniel.
Then at Atlas.
Then at Naomi.
“We need to talk.”
Naomi's voice was cold.
“You've been lying to me.”
Vance didn't deny it.
“Yes.”
“About Baltimore.”
“Yes.”
“About Northstar.”
“Yes.”
“About Daniel.”
Vance looked at him.
“Yes.”
Naomi's eyes hardened.
“What else?”
Vance took a breath.
“You weren't an asset in Baltimore.”
Naomi stared.
He stepped inside.
“You were the one who recruited us.”
The room went silent.
Atlas growled again.
Naomi looked at Vance.
“Then tell me what I recruited you for.”
Vance's expression was grim.
“To investigate the people who were supposed to be protecting us.”
Naomi didn't blink.
“And did we succeed?”
Vance shook his head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because one of us betrayed the team.”
“Who?”
Vance looked at Daniel.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Naomi's face became still.
“You?”
Daniel whispered.
“No.”
Vance answered for him.
“Not exactly.”
Naomi looked between them.
“Then who?”
Vance took a slow breath.
“The person who ordered your memory erased.”
Naomi stared.
“Who?”