"Yes, sir. Daniel's attackers had information only someone inside the Service would know." I hesitated. Then pushed forward. "Given the sensitive nature of this case and the potential for internal compromise, I believe it would be best if I pursued this investigation independently."
I deliberately avoided looking at Hawley as I spoke. But I could feel the temperature between us drop several degrees.
"To avoid putting Hawley in a compromised position," I added. The lie transparent even to my own ears.
Murphy's laugh was short and humorless. "Nice try, Detective. You two will work this case together, under my direct supervision only. We keep this between the three of us until we know what we're dealing with."
I opened my mouth to protest. He continued before I could speak.
"Additionally, you'll need to coordinate with 52. This crosses jurisdictional lines and involves your previous investigation."
My heart sank. "Sir, with all due respect..."
"This isn't a negotiation, Carlson. Whoever this mole is, they've already made a statement by attacking your informant. They'reexpectingyou to react, probably by running back to 52 alone. We need to be strategic."
I stared at the phone. Trapped. Cornered. "Yes, sir."
"Keep me updated. And Carlson?" A deliberate pause. "No cowboy shit. That's an order."
The call ended. Heavy silence between Hawley and me.
I pocketed my phone. Couldn't meet his gaze. For a moment, I dropped the act completely. I knew he could see everything I was trying to hide. The dread of returning to 52. The anger at being manipulated. The shame of having failed Daniel once already.
The fear of failing again.
"So." Hawley's words cut through my thoughts. Low and controlled but with an unmistakable edge. "I was right. You were planning to ditch me."
Not a question.
I finally looked up at him. Surprised by the intensity boring into me. He wasn't just annoyed. He was genuinelypissed.
"I was trying to protect you," I said. The defense sounded weak even to my own ears.
"Bullshit." Hawley moved closer. His height forced me to tilt my head up to maintain eye contact. "You don't trust me."
"That's not..."
"Then explain." His voice dropped dangerously low. "Explain why your first instinct was to go solo instead of working with your partner."
The wordpartnerhung between us. Weighted with meaning beyond our professional relationship.
I exhaled slowly. Searched for words that wouldn't sound like excuses.
"Someone who trusted me with this case ended up in that hospital bed," I finally managed. Gestured back toward the building. "And others disappeared. Or died." My throat tightened. "I've seen how this plays out, Hawley. These people have resources. Connections. They destroyed my career at 52 and nearly killed Daniel. I'm not..." I stopped. Swallowed hard. "I'm not adding your name to the casualty list."
Hawley studied me for a long moment. Expression unreadable. "That's not your call to make."
"It is if I'm the one who dragged you into this mess."
"You didn't drag me anywhere." His voice softened fractionally. His gaze remained intense. "We're partners, Carlson. That means we face threats together. Not just the easy ones."
His words landed somewhere I hadn't braced for. A tightness I hadn't realized was there began to loosen. But the fear remained.
"You don't know what we're up against."
"Then I guess you'll have to tell me, won't you?"
I stopped abruptly beside our car. Palm on the handle but not pulling it open. The weight of what lay ahead pressed downon me. Not just the case. Returning to 52. Walking into that division. Facing the cold stares and whispered comments.
