ending not to be waiting. My mind kept circling back to that voice

ened. I wasn't suppos

t. He didn't see me at first. Just walked to the fridge, op

red my

d. Just slightly. Then gave me

't sl

I didn't ask. Bec

idn't kn

offered, trying to sound normal - the version of norma

Just... confused. And maybe scared.And for the first time sinc

said disappeari

he water running before

y - quietly. My heart pounded in my chest, half from

e'd last looked at. He never locked it when he was showeri

Invisible. Undetectable. Just like I needed to be.By the time he came out - towel slung around his neck, shirt clin

ked at me as

to sound lazy, casual. Like I wasn't t

e my dad," he said without he

ly, watching

rrible liar

again,

learly through my phone. He hadn

rts of the city. Somewhere

m walk into an old, faded building. My finge

through first -

p hiding behind this voice. If what y

answered, dis

e documents are on the table. Read

ed. Then pages

strangl

is?! Who the hell wrote

nd then... silence. For a few seconds,

ast and angry, echoed

see me.I followed again, this time barely breathing. He drove lik

?At the

yed in the car, watching, waiting. M

passed. Th

waited another moment

st looked up a

ink he spoke to someone about... a persona

wned po

information about our clients."I lo

been acting strange lately. I'

ated. The

e need legal authorization to release any

nswers... and le

oom when I walked in,

e wer

ff guard by the sha

t to grab a

me. You were

h dropped

ould play

iding things from

you do that if you're lying to me?"His anger

his. I didn't even know what I wa

closer,

re. Let's get the truth. I'll get you

rching my face. T

nd was easy. I ha

itterness in his tea. He was

ealed them in the envelope, and ha

be meeting an importan

odd

hand

er I was on my

ore he stepped in front of me-slim, sharp

aid, voice smoot

omething else entirely-watchful, weighing. Li

dded, folding his arms like a bouncer

ling great," I said lightly. "Just popped in for a te

d, a little

e. Then, without warning,

. "Excu

all calm. "Just making sure

nted. If I made a scene now, it'd only draw more eyes. So I stood the

anted.He stared at it longer than he need

otion. "Do you usually search pat

im off rhythm,

ng back with a shallow bow that felt mor

ing people's privacy," I m

l I was in my car. I yanked the door open, climbed in, and slammed it shut be

ched beneath the passenger seat for

zipp

r. Stil

cate strand like it was gold. If I hadn't trusted my gut-if I hadn't switched the sa

d closed my eyes for a seco

cl

not

I staye