We were in the car, but a chill traced its way up my spine-a phantom weight I couldn't shake. Suddenly, I was remembering Jack Monroe's phone call from earlier, the way his jaw clenched tight as he checked the screen. "By the way, what did Alexander want?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

After a momentary silence, Jack Monroe turned to me, his eyes shading with a glimmer of something that resembled fear. "He said Ms. Kinsey-your mother, Emerald-left you an inheritance. It’s not just money, Sofia Lanka. It’s a deed. A deed to a Black Site in Meristate."

The air in the car suddenly seemed thin. A...