Holding him as tight as I could, I ignored the tears streaming down my own face.
#
Mr. Snyder reminded me of a bloodhound with his wrinkled face and droopy, tired eyes. I saw right away what Rome meant when he said the teacher wasn’t physically able to be our traitor. The man was pale, gaunt, and shaky.
He took us to an ordinary-looking house in the Bronx. After we had Lilas settled in a bedroom, we gathered around the kitchen table and started asking questions. Kerry went first.
“So why were you out of the Sanctuary?”
“Someone accused me of being the turncoat. The Council was planning to call me for questioning. Things weren’t going through the proper channels, though. That, combined with some other things, gave me the sense that I was being set up.”
“Who would do that to you?” Kerry asked.
“I’m 431 years old. I’ve had some time to make enemies.” The old man spread his hands out and smiled. “Anyway, Clem sent word that wardens were coming for me, so I skedaddled.”
“An Examiner would have seen the truth,” Rome pointed out.
“What’s an Examiner?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“My dear boy, do you really think I would have lived long enough to stand before one? In the current charged climate?” He clasped his hands and his eyes went far away. “I’ve lived through a few witch hunts. I remember the mob mentality and the hysteria, and the Sanctuary has the same feel right now. I’d have been executed. Oh, they might have called it an accident or suicide, but that’s the order Henry Gaines would have given his dogs.”
“Henrywho?” Kerry’s face screwed up in frustration.
“Gaines. The president of the Council of Wardens. Level seven wrangler and a second,” Rome rattled off.
“Henry has a secret.” Mr. Snyder dropped his eyes to his rough, wrinkled hands. “I had the misfortune of discovering it a few weeks ago, and I am convinced that’s why he was so quick to brand me the traitor without the benefit of a trial or an examination of the evidence.”
“What’s the secret?” Kerry asked right as Rome said, “That’s illegal.”
“I’m not going to tellyou, and I know it is.”
“Isn’themore likely to be the traitor then? Mr. Gaines, I mean.” I looked from Mr. Snyder to the boys.
“Maybe.” Rome shrugged. “We’ll get our Sanctuary-based team to look into that.”
I nodded. That would be a good job for Tara and the others, since they seemed to have hit a wall with their current assignments.
“Well, Mr. Snyder, you’ve got yourself into a mess.” Kerry drummed his fingers on the table. “I guess you could always contact the International Council. ’Course, they might send in a Purifier if there’s corruption among the Council members.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Rome muttered.
“What’s a Purifier?” I asked.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I’m not joking.” Kerry looked puzzled that Rome thought he was.
“You don’t seem too concerned about this.” I raised an eyebrow at Mr. Snyder.
“As I told you, I am an old, old man. Death isn’t so fearful when you’re as close to it as I am. However, I’d prefer not to leave this world with a sullied reputation because someone has set me up to hide their wrongdoing.”
“Well, what are you doing to clear your good name?” Kerry asked.
“Nothing. Helene Chapman and August Richter are dealing with it back at the Sanctuary. Clem’s helping, too, as he can.”
“Why not tell the truth to the world about Henry Gaines?” I asked. “If it is such a dangerous secret, getting it out in the open would switch the target from your back to his, right?”
