A beat.
“Low-level current runs along the outer grid—not enough to harm them, but enough to condition movement. They don’t cross it.”
Harper smiled, satisfied. “So they stay exactly where they’re supposed to.”
Her eyes gleamed faintly.
“And they’re very well fed.”
Cruz continued, unfazed. “They help with… cleanup.”
A brief pause.
No one asked what that meant.
They didn’t need to.
A faint smile touched Cruz’s lips. “Very efficient, too.”
Ashcroft swallowed hard, as did James and Monroe. The revelation lingered in the air, heavy and unsettling.
Harper—the sweet, bubbly woman on the screen—having something like that didn’t quite fit in their minds… and yet, it clearly did.
Then Harper tapped her tablet lightly, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful.
“But… anyways
