I keep the burner though and wake the screen, opening their thread.
Your contractor, Mr. Moreau, arrived. He wasn’t prepared for the scope of the work. You should have hired someone with more experience.
I pause. Long enough for the meaning to sink in.
Julian made the same mistake. He underestimated how far I’m willing to go to protect her.
That one will sting. It’s meant to.
One last message. The hook.
You misjudged the board. If you’d like to continue playing, make your next move carefully. If you move against her again, understand how close I already am.
Now we have a clear understanding of who’s watching and who’s being watched. I slip the phone into my pocket and wait for her to decide if she’s brave enough to answer.
The mouse always thinks the danger is over when the cat stops moving. But that’s when the game actually begins.
I don’t linger. There’s no reason to stay close to the board once the pieces are in place.
A few minutes later, Matt’s headlights sweep the street a blockfrom the Lemaire property. I get in without a word. He doesn’t ask if I’m okay. He never does.
We drive in silence, and streetlights tick by on the road.
“So… the prosecutor.”
I watch the city slide past the window. “Her name’s Laurette.”
He catches the shift. “Are you falling?”
The words land heavier than they should.
“Yeah.” I pause and shake my head. “I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“And her?”
“She feels it too.”
That earns a glance. “This is where I tell you it won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Because she doesn’t know the real you.”
“She knows enough.”
“And she’s okay with that?”
I think of her standing naked in the doorway, saying she feels it too. No fear in her eyes. No pause. She’d already decided I’m worth the fall.
“She’s not afraid.”
His hands tighten on the wheel. “She’s an ADA, Bastien. She swore an oath, and that oath could put you in a cage. That’s not a minor risk.”
I turn to him. “You know me. I don’t do minor risks.”
He huffs a quiet laugh. “No, you never have.”
“She’s worth the fall.”
