Ty kept his eyes off his hand when the drawer asked for the active absence test.
The empty place was only the easiest part to see. The real absence had traveled farther than flesh. Reports had carried it. Threats had dressed it up. Route marks had given it a job. Erebos had found a way to use the missing piece after the body lost its say.
Omina turned away from the drawer first.
"Before you name the test, ask him for the limit."
The drawer brightened around the word ask. Ty hated that. The file liked consent when consent could become another handle.
Omina kept her voice level.
"Do you consent to an index-only absence test?"
Ty let the question stay open long enough to make the drawer wait. His right hand wanted to curl. He left it flat against his thigh.
"Define what the word absence is allowed to mean first."
