them felt like a countdown, but I couldn't make sense of the rule

searching for signals, but every path l

membered

d been warned. But fear has a way of dissolving p

The memory came back sharp. "I wrote it down on that

ought of it himself. Without a word, he left. A few minutes later, he returned and handed

e us something to work with.

d idea, he thought it was risky. Bu

do?" he asked, his vo

y face, that flicker of determination. He h

aled

off the license plate. I didn't know what I expected, som

ack only deepene

the woman said after a long pause. "If you want an

investigation. Nothing. That was where the trail end

here anything else yo

roz

volving the cops. I could still hear the

quietly. "N

ilence, my fingers still wrap

for once, this wasn't tied to the people threatening me. And more than anything,

s nothing else he could do, just listen,

gency be following me? Wh

ot just fear, but confusion.

sense," I said to Dom

eyes unreadable.

atening me. They had power. They had rea

let this shut you down. Get some air. Go back to work. They want you to

on lingering in my chest

. Keep up appearances. If someone at work is involved, eyes on them might sh

rning, but more than that, it felt like a l

sita

as r

it made me smaller, more fragile.

t safety; it was about control. Even

t was pre