I looked away first. Made myself breathe.
"Boys," Rodriguez said, "you all know Sloane Harper. New York Times."
The celebration paused. Shifted.
Shane's expression moved from joy to something more professional, though a smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.
"Ms. Harper." He nodded. "Good to see you."
"Shane. Congratulations." My voice sounded steady. A small miracle. "I heard on the way in."
Brian Torres was still seated at the table, close to where Shane had been standing. He offered a small wave but stayed quiet.
His attention drifted between me and Garrett.
"Ms. Harper is here about a serial arson case," Rodriguez continued. "She needs a liaison from our station." He turned toward the table. "Stone, you're assigned to assist Ms. Harper with access and background."
Silence.
Garrett's fingers tightened around his mug. I watched the tendons in his hand flex. Watched him take a breath that was almost imperceptible.
Say no,I thought desperately.Pass it to someone else. Tell Rodriguez you're too busy, you have other responsibilities, you can't?—
"I'll do it."
His voice was flat. Controlled. Giving absolutely nothing away.
Everyone turned.
The common room had gone quiet—that particular stillness that meant people were picking up on subtext they didn't understand.
I stared at him. He stared back.
Why? Why would you agree to this?
Whatever history existed between us, it was heavy enough to fill the room.
Shane's eyes were narrowing. Recognition dawning. Brian glanced between us with an expression I couldn't read.
"I'll email you the case files," I said. Professional. Steady.
"I have your email."
Another pause. Charged.
Rodriguez clapped his hands. "Good. That's settled. Harper, let me walk you out—Stone, I'll brief you in the morning."
I turned to leave. Paused at the door.
Didn't let myself look back.
"I'll be in touch, Stone."
I was gone before anyone could respond.
I sat in my car for ten minutes before I trusted myself to drive.
My hands were shaking. Actually shaking, like I was some rookie reporter about to interview her first source instead of a woman with a decade of experience and a Pulitzer nomination.
