“He didn’t do it. I know him and he…” I shake my head. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know. I wanted to tell you something before you spoke to Reed. I tried calling but…” She rubs her lips together. “I assume I’m too late.” She looks down at her shoes for a moment before looking back up. “I’m sure you already excused yourself from the hospital assignment as we discussed.”
“What were you coming to tell me?”
“That I’ve changed my mind.” She drops her voice. “About what we discussed. The arrangement. I wish I had gotten here in time. For a second there, I thought she was going to arrest you because of what we did. I wanted to tell you that we don’t have to tell her. I mean, we can make it a few days…just until you finish this assignment. I got here a bit too late. I’m so sorry. I hope you didn’t get into trouble over me…and what happened. I?—”
“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” I ask.
“I’ve been thinking about it. I…I don’t want you to step down. I think you’re right. I’d rather we get this out of our systems, as you said. I’m being an idiot about the whole thing. I mean, it’s just sex, right? But since you told Reed…” She shrugs.
“It’s not too late,” I tell her. “Because I didn’t get a chance to tell Reed.” I wince internally. I hate lying. I hate using her. I hate this whole damned thing. “I came to tell Magma I was stepping down, and then Reed arrived to arrest him. I need to go… I…”
“Of course. I’d better get back to the hospital,” she says, mostly to herself. “On the way here, the radio said there’s another protest scheduled at the Council buildings this afternoon. They’re, once again, calling for the deportation of all humans.” She trails off and gives a small, dazed shake of her head. “There’s so much anger right now.” She pushes out a breath. “Anyway, there’s always an added risk of casualties. I should go.”
“You’re right.” I nod. “Smoke and Brutus will take care of you.”
“I should let you do whatever it is you need to do.” She looks around the room. “You probably don’t want me here right now.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
We go out, and Flint has things under control…for now. A few heads turn as we walk past, including Flint, who frowns. None of them says anything. Jess looks up from her desk, and her eyes go to Robyn, then back to me. I give her a small nod that I hope she reads as I’m fine. She nods back, small and tight.
I walk Robyn to the elevator and press the button.
The doors slide open moments later. I put my hand over the sensor, holding them open.
“Will I see you later?” she asks as she and the guards step inside.
“Go to work, Dr. Keller.”
Then I’m walking away.
Fuck! I need to step away from this. All of it. I need to make Reed assign someone else.
But what if Icanhelp Magma by proving that the evidence was planted? Maybe I can find out who is behind this.
The only way is to stay. To finish what I started.
If my theory is right, I will find planted evidence on Robyn. It’ll be there somewhere. I need to get close enough to her to find it.
Then I need to find a way to prove that it was planted.
