Pamela's POV
The message arrived just after sunrise, delivered by a person with the state's official mark stamped in red wax. My assistant brought it into my office with shaky hands, as if the paper itself held poison.
"Madam Pamela," she whispered, "the leader in charge of the investigation wants you to come to his office this afternoon. It says showing up is… really important."
I looked at the words once, then again. Really important. They weren't even trying to hide the threat.
My brothers acted right away when I called them in. Amarok walked back and forth across the room, hands clenched. "This is a trick, Pamela. He'll force you to sign something, or something worse."
Another of my brothers hit his hand hard on the desk. "We should say no right away. Let them think we won't give in to being scared."
I held up a hand, telling them to be quiet. "If I say no, they'll make it seem like I'm guilty. If I go, at least I will see their plan with my own eyes."
