Lawrence winced as Alexander loomed over him. "It's how they operate. They embed their assets into people, locations, patterns. That way, even if someone betrays them, the data is useless without the full picture."
"So, what?" Marcus asked. "It's embedded in her?"
Lawrence shook his head. "Not physically. But Eleanor's connected to it. Memories, interactions, something she doesn't even realize she knows. That's why they want her."
I felt cold. "You're saying they built a puzzle and made me part of it?"
"Yes," Lawrence said, his voice barely audible.
Alexander grabbed Lawrence by the collar, hauling him to his feet. "What part of this are you not telling us?"
"Everything I know is in those files," Lawrence stammered. "But the Consortium's methods—they don't share full details, even with their operatives. That's the point."
Alexander released him roughly. "Marcus, how long until we can trace their location?"
