OBSCURA

much. Didn't smil

matte. No glitter, no feathers. Just enough to

nce quiet. The event was loud: laughter, glasses clinking, someone descri

hing. Listen

her, his steps too co

," he said, "or loo

turn. "Ma

ll. Dark suit. Confiden

he offered, li

looked at

ast n

ne

ask. "You wear that to st

swer. That wa

ng choice,

ike being

eople

anyo

. "You always spea

have much

n't wa

alone?"

dn't a

to the mask. "Y

not fo

aid. "It's

aid n

e between

aring into the crowd be

air was cold. Sh

d the street. A car passed. She ignored it. She had no intention of b

when she reache

walk like you've bee

dn't r

ed her p

back of his car,

wasn't

the event with an invite tied to a defunct art foundation. Fake c

sed th

rest

still knew how

"You always ask ques

it didn't quite

e evening

nten

ared to. She did

he silence w

r apartment was clean, cold, and efficient. No photos. No clutter. A single

e

d her

lit up t

wn nu

s like that. But you stoo

ked the

rep

of a black SUV, phone in one

st list," his assista

reco

on

name Layla.

me t

e street lights moved past l

e said.

pecially not when someone looked

, Layla was

referred it that way. Her job was archival-handling records, updating digi

m., her pho

ke being looked at. But you

gnore

later, the

stepped

museum didn't allow privat

k how he got

ed me," she

replied. "Tha

asting yo

'm here for

o her desk. "What

someone like yo

dn't a

eatrics," he said. "I

nk I'm hidin

g. You're choosin

s on the screen

people to know

N

dangerou

ing to know

his eyes narrowed sli

you again,

dn't r

l

the floor beside her bed.

ne rema

quiet, and she l

silence didn'

k before in someone e

ty. Pos

terest that di

wasn't going

ure if she w

in a city museum. Small department. Long hours

up, and loose clothes. No

didn't

belonged. No appoin

't look

expected th

idn't

't invi

the quiet room. "N

hiding. It

closer. Not

differen

are

, measuring each

ned. "You wa

n't de

rs," h

nothing t

ery full of cameras. You w

ying to be f

mposed, flat-toned, and diffic

d the u

w who you ar

you w

t a cha

s a

. Just nodded a

ght, her phon

:

I've seen bette

ge for a long time. Del

able. She picked it up and

wore it to conceal someth

her face she w