Awakening Book One of the Trust Series(97)

She knew who he was and he was not the one to tell her. She had to find out from Declan, of all people. He was positive by now she knew more of his history than just a genealogy, and he was sure that there was now a chasm that was opened greater then he knew how to handle.

He knew that the faith would take a while to build up, and that was only if the Trust gave him the opportunity to do so. They had still not announced his fate to him and this frankly unnerved him.

The door creaked open and he saw Jonathan McPherson walk in quietly. Garrett’s eyes followed him as he took a chair and pulled it up to Garrett’s bed. Garrett sat up. “Councilman.”

Jonathan smiled in greeting. “Garrett. So here we are, yet again, to go over the decision of the Tribunal.”

Garrett nodded. “Am I no longer welcome?”

“No. The Tribunal has agreed that you stay. The reports of the Inquisitors have been very thorough. We do not believe that you had anything to do with Lionel’s betrayal.”

“Thank you, Jonathan. I know that you have defended me yet again.”

“Garrett, this time you did this on your own. There was not any evidence to indicate that you have had any further dealings with the Cine Tofa.”

“Am I free to go then?”

“In the morning. I am here for a debriefing and then you have one final medical exam.”

Garrett got out of the hospital bed that he had been a prisoner in these past days and walked over silently to a set of clothes that were on the table and walked to the bathroom. If he was going to be debriefed, he was not going to do this in a hospital gown.

Dressed, he sat across from Jonathan at the same table in the room. The Councilman smiled. “Better I bet. Garrett, the Tribunal has chosen to let you remain in the Trust. With that being said, they agreed that you can remain in your capacity as an Inquisitor even.”

That news was a surprise to Garrett. Even though he had done nothing wrong, he had assumed that they would take away that privilege so he would not have access to any confidential information. The fact that they are letting him resume, means that they must be beginning to trust him.

“But-” he was pulled from his thoughts. “You will not go back right away. We have had a special request that we are granting.”

Garrett raised his eyebrows. “Special request?”

Jonathan nodded. “Declan is on assignment for the next few weeks and would like you to resume your mentorship of Caitlyn until he returns. The Council would like you try to teach her Projection Telepathy.”

He was beyond floored. He was getting his wish of time to repair things with Caitlyn. He would not waste it. “Anything else?”

The Councilman looked out the tiny window briefly. “Your identity to most is still unknown. The Inquisitors involved this week, Caitlyn, Declan, and Caleb have all had a gag order placed on them.”

He was shocked by that last name. “Caleb?”

“He was the one who discovered your true identity and alerted Declan and Caitlyn. Declan assumed that you were the traitor.”

Garrett’s mind reeled. It was going to be hard enough repairing his relationship with Caitlyn, but Caleb would find this betrayal deep. He was his best friend and Garrett held it from him for years. It would be a busy few days indeed. “Okay.”

Jonathan stood, reaching out his hand to shake Garrett’s. “Caitlyn will be expecting you tomorrow at her apartment. I expect a full report given to Councilman Riley and Declan upon his return on her progress.”

With that, the Councilman walked out the door. That night, Garrett’s mind raced as he went over all he was going to say to Caitlyn and to Caleb. He needed to make them understand that this was not of his choice to keep this away from them. He had always wanted the both of them to know. So it was with trepidation that he found himself the next morning pulling up to Caitlyn’s apartment, unsure exactly what to say to her.

He began to knock on her door and had not even finished the first rap when she flew the door open. She looked at him for a brief moment as he drank her in. As he stood dumbstruck, all the apologies and practiced words were quickly forgotten. “Hi.”

She stood there for one more moment, appraising him, eyes watering, before flinging herself around him, into his arms. He was home.





Chapter 30



A weariness surrounded Caitlyn as she pulled away from his arms. It was time for the both of them to have a long overdue conversation about his past. She walked over to her kitchen and contemplated delaying the exchange, not wanting to acknowledge the severity of what they needed to discuss. Caitlyn grabbed the tea she had been drinking and took a long thoughtful sip. Finally, she stated her feelings as simply as possible. “Garrett. We need to talk.”