le, thick with the smell of old takeout and his cheap cologne. He was sprawled on the sofa, ba
d me. The surprise melted into a practiced look of concern, the one he used
e by the door. Not a single tremor in my hands. In my other life, I'd dismantled bi
at had been sitting there for at least a day. I brought it to my nose. The
me, his arms outstretched. "Baby, I know yo
sly in the air between us. My gaze was ice. "Explain? Explain why
ford shirt as if seeing it for the first time. "I... I've be
, brittle sound in the quiet room. "Too busy to change
g to sniff the collar of his shirt, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It's J
aving a pasty, gray pallor. Panic flickered in his eyes. "No, that's no
ned blade. "One last question, Ben." I held up my left hand, the cheap silver ring he'd gi
sion shifted instantly to one of deep, theatrical sincerity. "Of course I remember. I said that
d pretended to be, vanished. I stated the fact flatly. "No. Your exact words
e completely. He couldn't comprehend how I knew. He couldn't fa
shing a procedure, I slid the silver ring off my fi
my voice a dead, even to
soft plink. The silver band sank quickly, disappearing into the dregs
case. "Because it, along with you, and the three ye
ing to rage. He lunged, trying to grab my arm. "Is
n around. I just stated a simple, undeniable fact
decisively on the linoleum of the hallway. The door swung shut behind
ase behind me. The building's front door swung shut, a
't loo
what was waiting
at idling under a broken streetlight. The engine was
rp against the glow of a phone screen. He had been watching th
her back straight, her steps unhurried. She looked like nothing – a tire
rom Alger Park's private server. The one that said: "The niece is bac
car smiled. A s
e? Vuln
that building like a queen leaving a burning
his ear. It rang once
his tone flat, professional
er end. Then: "Do
face illuminated for a split second by the dome light. Even from this dist
. "Stick with her. Report her loca
call. The screen flickered, r
apped his fingers on the armrest. The taxi
imself. "Let's see what you'r
the curb, silent as a predato
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