My palms sweat furiously and my pulse rocks my bones.
If I push too hard, he could kill me before I can blink.
After all, what does he have left to lose?
His life is in shambles.
And if he’s surrendering when it’s done, he’s already expecting a life sentence. Prison. What’s a little more for one more murder?
I can’t win.
But I can’t give up, either.
“Whether you believe me or not, Kane didn’t know what happened until it was too late to stop it. Then he walked out when there was nothing more he could do. He’s almost as madabout it as you are. You should’ve seen him when he told me about it—itkilledhim to be part of something that disgusting.”
“Hewasresponsible.”
“Not for making the calls. They decided to make the AI a replacement rather than a tool, not him. The software was meant to help designers originally. You know that, or you never would’ve joined.”
“You know nothing!” Lee slams his fist against the wall, scarily close to my head.
That shuts me up.
“You don’t get it. You can’t. You won’t. The world must know thatno oneis safe from this anti-human monstrosity. Not while it’s in the hands of people like Kane Saint.” His words are mangled, his voice torn. “It’s an abomination. No matter how rich or famous or powerful, there must be consequences. Saint will help me demonstrate that.”
“Demonstrate what? That you have a vendetta?”
His face curdles.
“People will understand why. It’s time the world started standing up for artists rather than fucking billionaire tech lords.”
“Look, I agree with you,” I say desperately, the tears building behind my eyes. Crying won’t help anything, but I’m only human. “I’m sort of an artist too. I design shoes. I’ve been feeling the pressure from AI myself, even when I use it. The way it invades your creativity and slowly takes over, it’swrong.”
“If you know all that,” he says, staring me down, “then why are you siding with Kane Saint? Are you that goddamned dick-matized?”
At least he isn’t looking at me like he wants to set me on fire now.
I think I’m getting through to him.
The rough brick scrapes my hands as I tuck them behind my back.
Keep looking, dude. I’m not a threat.
“Because I believe him when he says he’s not responsible,” I say. “Kane is onyourside, and if you want to make a stand against OptiSynth for ripping you off, I think he’ll help you. They called him once, asking for a favor, and he was so angry… I’ve never seen him like that. He’s a good man. He doesn’t want it to be like this. But Lee, this isn’t the way. You need lawyers, not bullets. Not blood.”
He stares at me for a few more seconds, the flashlight fixed on my face, blinding me.
Please, please believe me.
“I wonder, did he give you this little script?” he asks at last. I want to cry. “Or did you come up with it on the spot? Maybe they should’ve hired you for PR, Miss Blackthorn.”
“This isn’t a stunt—”
“Just shut up. Shut the fuck up, and I won’t need to hurt you. Believe it or not, I don’t want to. I’m not bloodthirsty. I’m a peaceful person. But if you defend Kane Saint one more time—if you keep making excuses—they’ll have to write your obituary next to his.”
I shake my head, feeling my face screw up.
“Please, you don’t have to kill him.”
