“Then I’d like to leave. Because while I’m sure you’d just love to spend another hour asking me these stupid questions andtwisting my answers to suit yourwhatever—“ the word escapes me, so I just wave toward his notebook “—I’ve got midterms I need to study for.”
Thatcher watches me for a long moment. “You’re his only alibi, Miss Lee.”
Fuck this guy. And fuck his traps. I clench my jaw, shaking my head as I stare him down.
Not today, Lucifer.
He closes his notebook and stands. “As I said at the start of the interview, you are free to leave at any time.”
I tilt my chin, lips pursed as I head for the door. His voice stops me before I can step into the hall.
“I appreciate you taking time away from your studies to answer my questions, Miss Lee.”
I wish I could keep my back turned, but I’m compelled to turn and face him.
He’s wearing that faint smile. Just polite enough to make me uneasy. Just polite enough to give me hope.
“Would you—” My voice cracks. I clear my throat before trying again. “Would you get a message to Kai? I need to tell him?—”
“No.”
“Please. Just tell him I love him. That I’m trying to help?—“
“I think he knows exactly how much you love him, Miss Lee. Don’t you?” Thatcher’s smile finally reaches his eyes.
Fuck.
He gestures down the hallway, dismissing me.
I grab my tote bag and walk away on legs that feel like they might give out at any second.
The hallway stretches forever. Endless beige tiles and fluorescents and the smell of disinfectant.
I don’t see Kai again.
Good. I don’t deserve to.
If anything, I just made his situation worse.
I take out my phone as soon as I’m on the sidewalk outside the station, quickly scanning my notifications. Nothing from Bastian yet, thank God.
I stayed up most of the night wondering when he was going to call me. What he’d be expecting from me this time.
Another quickie somewhere?
Or another nail in Kai’s coffin?
I’m tempted to call him and just get it over with, but Thatcher’s interrogation has left me drained. I don’t have anything left to fight with.
Pretty soon, I won’t have anything left to fightfor.
I order an Uber back to the Airbnb, still smiling grimly when the driver stops a few feet away.
“So, what were you in for?” the driver asks, flashing me a grin when I look up at him in shock.
It’s a joke. I should act like a human and laugh.
But I’m not in the fucking mood for people with enough joy left to joke with strangers.
