“Why?” he demanded.
Because this was the moment. The one where people usually lied. I could lie, there were easily a half-dozen things I could say that would paper over the cracks this dispute revealed and could widen.
“Stopping her would have told the unsub she’s not in control of the story,” I told him bluntly. “It would have shown her as a pawn, instead of a player.”
Shock had Flint’s jaw dropping slowly as hegapedat me. “You’re insane. You think fielding her as an opponent to akilleris aplan?”
“No,” I said calmly. “I think pretending she isn’t already in the fight is dangerous.”
“You’re not just relying on semantics,” he snapped. “You’re gambling with her life.”
“Everything about this case is a gamble,” I replied. The sooner Carter got on board, the better. Mallory’s information and her connection was the first real break we’d gotten on this case. I wasn’t going to risk losing it. “The difference is whether she’s aware and willing to play.”
He laughed once—sharp, incredulous. “You don’t get to decide that.”
“I didn’t,” I reminded him. “She did.” If I had to repeat it more than once to make my point, then I would.
His eyes narrowed and he began to circle the room, slowly, like he was testing angles. “You talk about her like you’re inside her head,” he said. “Like you know what she’d accept and what she wouldn’t.”
“I observe patterns,” I said with a shrug. “It’s part of my job.”
“Convenient.” Skepticism darkened the underside of the word.
“Carter,” I said, blowing out a breath and shifting tactics. I didn’t like the guy and I didn’t have to. He could be a real problem. Yet, he could also be a true asset. I needed him, if not on my side, to at least remain neutral.
He stopped in front of me. Close enough now that this was no longer a theoretical fight. Flint Carter wanted to throw a punch. But he was still analyzing the situation enough to guard his temper.
Useful.
“What would you have done?” I set it out in front of him. “Knowing her as you do. Knowing how she thinks. How she works. Understanding her very real desire to stay in control of this story…what wouldyouhave done?”
Flint didn’t answer right away.
That was answer enough.
His jaw tightened, eyes flicking once toward the door before settling back on me. “I would’ve slowed her down,” he said finally. “I would’ve bought us time. Worked through the story, the pros, the cons… made sure we weren’t reacting to him onhisschedule.”
“Because that makesyoufeel useful,” I said quietly, pointing out the obvious.
“It’s not aboutme.”His head snapped up. “I would have gained us time because I want to keep heralive.”
“Whether you like it or not,” I said slowly. “Those aren’t mutually exclusive, particularly when you aren’t being honest about what scares you more.”
His expression shuttered and his eyes went cool as he took another step closer. “Careful.”
“Or what?” I asked. No challenge. Just curiosity. “You’ll accuse me of crossing a line you’re already standing on?”
His laugh was humorless. “You think this is about control?”
“I think,” I said, evenly, “that you want her safe because you want her.”
His nostrils flared. “Don’t.”
“I also think you won’t forgive yourself if something happens to her, whether it’s your fault or not.”
His jaw tightened all over again and I could almosthearthe way his teeth ground together.
“This isn’t about managing risk to her. It’s about staying close. You don’t want her out of your sight or control. You want to be the one she leans on and the one who can rein her in.” Every statement landed, and I found keeping my tone neutral was damn near impossible. Thankfully, I had practice. “She’s a beautiful woman. Intelligent. Bold as brass. Sexy as hell. Absolutely comfortable in her own femininity. It’s a seductive package.”
