“I can’t tell you everything.”
“Understood. Carry on.” Her small smile gives me hope.
Hope for what? I’m not sure yet.
“We need to speak directly with an expert there about some of the artifacts we acquired from Oscar. We attempted to email and write a letter but got … blocked.” I attempt to work it so she kind of understands it without telling her point blank that this goes high up.
“What do we hope to gain from this?” she asks.
“Origins. Possibly where the artifacts were stolen from. Any interested parties, although I doubt we’ll get information on that.”
“So, Cano is just the beginning,” she guesses correctly.
“Seems so.”
“Am I safe? Are you?”
“Yes. We’ll have some backup. I swear on everything I possibly can that you will be safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I watch her every move. Every little tick, fidget, and sigh.
“Let’s do it.” She finally raises her eyes back to mine with a determination I haven’t seen since she was in her Nova persona.
“We can spend the day planning, rest up, and then head down tomorrow.”
Chapter 26
Claire
I can do this.
I’ve been back to the MET without Charlie once. What’s one more time?
Just an emotional, hormonal mess, that’s what. Tell that to my shaking hands as we drive into the city.
“You okay?”
“Nope,” I say immediately.
He pulls over without hesitation. “What do you need?”
“Therapy.” I cackle, clearly losing it. Tears are already leaking from the corner of my eyes.
“What do you need right now?” he asks with a small smile on his face.
“It’s still so hard to come back here. I know the last time we did I had a total breakdown, and I really hoped that was the end of it, but all I can see is Charlie’s body. It’s not even what’s he’s missed. It’s just seeing him and having to identify him. It all flashes back.”
“I can drop you off at my office and go alone,” he offers.
“No. No. This is like exposure therapy. I need to go. I’ll be okay. These damn hormones aren’t helping.” Lord knows I can’t ruin this investigation for him. If that means I stand there like a statue and then figure it all out after the fact, then so be it.
“You know I never want to put you in a position that is too much for you. It’s fine if you need more time. I have no clue about the hormonal side of things, but if you want food or literally anything to distract you, I’ll make it happen.”
He’s so understanding. I have no idea how to deal with someone so understanding.
“I’m okay. I promise.”
He looks at me for a couple of minutes before nodding and pulling back onto the road.
