As the door clicked shut, Lyra leaned against it, arms crossed, forehead pressed to her hands.
Frustration gnawed at her.
Her factory was understaffed, plain and simple.
Debbie, fresh out of school, could handle the business side of things well enough, but she lacked the depth of experience needed to navigate the more complex aspects. And that was where the real trouble lay.
Ansel wasn't someone you could underestimate. He was no fool like Erin, who had left herself exposed and vulnerable. No, Ansel was sharp. Dangerous. He wouldn't make the same slip-ups.
The Soul Spikes, a device meant for torturing hardened criminals, could get someone locked up for decades if used carelessly—twenty, maybe fifty years.
That was why she had been silenced.
She needed Dr. Brian to bring the truth to light. It was the only way.
