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