"Are you insane?" I glance around the café and lower my voice. "I can't just—Colleen, how far am I supposed to go with this guy? I'm taken, you know."
She laughs, waving a hand. "Not far. Hopefully."
"Hopefully?"
"Look, you'd just need to flirt a little and distract him long enough to grab the phone." Her expression softens, desperate. "I wouldn't ask if I had any other choice. The cops are no help. They keep saying they’re on the case, but nothing happens. My niece could be in danger—or worse—and I'm running out of time."
The weight in her voice guts me. I think of Claudia's face in the photo Colleen showed me months ago. Fifteen. Dark hair. Sad eyes.
I rub my temples. "This is a terrible idea."
"I know."
"Julian's going to flip."
"Don't tell him." Colleen reaches for my hand again. "Please, Liza. You're the only person I can trust with this."
I stare at the letter on the table.Karma will find you.
Maybe this is it. Maybe this is how I balance the scales.
"Fine." The word escapes before I can stop it. "But you owe me. Big time."
Colleen exhales, relief flooding her features. "Thank you. God, thank you."
"When?"
"Soon. I'll scope out his usual spots, let you know." She squeezes my hand. "You won't regret this."
"I already do."
Colleen smiles and winks at me. "You're the best, you know."
We fall into silence for a beat. I'm still thinking about Daniel, despite myself. He's gotten to me. My chest tightens, and I feel the familiar burn behind my eyes.
"What is it?" Colleen asks, concern etched on her face.
"I just—" My voice cracks. "I feel so betrayed."
"Oh, sweetie…"
"And also stupid, you know? I’m such an idiot."
Colleen's expression shifts, all the conspiracy draining away. "Hey. No."
"He played me. From the very beginning." I press my palms against my eyes, willing the tears back. "The whole thing with my rent, asking me out right when I was vulnerable. I thought I was so lucky. This hot, successful, older guy who wantedme." I laugh bitterly. "What a joke."
"Liza, look at me."
I drop my hands. Her face is fierce, protective.
"You are not stupid. Not even close." She leans across the table. "Men like Daniel? They're professionals. They study people, find the weak spots, and exploit them with surgical precision. It's what they do. What they'regoodat."
"But I should've seen—"
"No." Her voice cuts sharply. "Daniel's a master manipulator. I'm sure he's been doing this his whole life. You never stood a chance against someone that calculated." She sits back, shakingher head. "I've watched him work. The way he schmoozes the tenants when he wants something, then turns ice-cold the second they're not useful anymore. He's dangerous, Liza. Genuinely dangerous."
I swallow hard, the knot in my throat refusing to budge.
