Tia could have revealed the truth. She could have outed me and brought my identity crashing down. Instead, she jumped to her feet. Hands slammed on the table, and she leaned forward, face inches from mine.
“You idiot,” she hissed. “I’m the one who put the note on your desk.”
There was no room for anger as the confusion came flooding in. The only people who knew about the notes were Booker, Ms. Keyes, and me. I tried to rationalize it. Maybe Apex had accessed the security footage or tapped our phones. My brain tried latching onto a fantasy, but reality set in. The simplest answer was the truth.
“You warned us?” I mumbled.
“I like my job,” she growled. “I’ve suspected?—
Booker held up his hand, hushing her. His finger pointed to the camera mounted in the corner. I couldn’t tell him I had already blacked out the lens. This room had been secured from prying eyes since I arrived.
Everybody remained quiet as Booker pulled a business card from his pocket. He flipped it over and scribbled something on the back. He kept it hidden in his palm as he offered it to Tia. She snatched it away, reading the back.
“You need to go somewhere safe,” he whispered. “Where they’d never look for you.”
“I’m not?—”
“I’m not asking,” he said. Despite his whispering, his statement carried a sense of urgency. “It’s for your safety.”
She nodded. For all the threats I had hurled, she insisted on giving me the runaround about the assassins’ guild. I had almost gotten the answer. Ten more seconds and I’d know who sent assassins to kill me. I had to wonder if Booker’s statement was hiding her away from the person selling Synergy’s secrets or me?
Tia didn’t say another word as she stormed off. My only lead vanished, and all my work this morning came to a halt. Maybe I had my priorities mixed up, but I wanted vengeance on the person who ruined the relationship with my co-workers.
Booker’s eyebrow rested perched high on his brow. I waited for him to ask about my early arrival or interviewing Tia without him present. Hell, he could have glanced at the dents on the table, and without a word, we’d need to have a conversation. I prepared for my anger to shift into guilt. This wasn’t the way I imagined coming clean about my extracurricular activities.
“Now that we have that mystery solved, ready to get to work?”
I appreciated his ability to sidestep the questions I wasn’t ready to answer. It made me wonder if he knew more than he let on. Unfortunately, not even his patience or his acceptance stopped the anger in my chest.
“I’m going to get some air.” I needed to cool down and collect myself. His eyes softened, and I could read the worry on his face. “Once around the building and I’ll be back.” The smile didn’t reach his eyes, and somehow, that was the worst of what had just happened.
15
POP.
Becky decided that an empty chair across the table served as an invitation. If I didn’t know better, I’d think a Timelord had pulled me into the 80s. Between the chopped-up sweatshirt, neon headband, and a wrist full of scrunchies, I should have checked the date.
“Did he dump you?” She continued chewing her gum as if she held a grudge. “Or did you dump him?”
“Nobody dumped anybody.”
“So you’re still together?”
Becky. My dear, sweet Becky. I recognized the trap laid out before me. No matter what I answered, she’d walk away with a hefty bit of gossip. Perhaps she should have been the one doing the interviewing, and we’d have gottensomewhere. A small room filled with the sound of her chomping away, I’d confess to murder.
“Oh, look.” Her eyebrows waggled as she stood. “Your man friend has arrived.”
Becky stood, pulling the seat out for Booker. He shot me a curious glance as she shoved it under him. “Oof.” She lingered for a moment, making kissy faces behind his back. Before I could shoo her away, she darted into the kitchen with her father.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt.”
“Apparently we’re best friends now. She insists I go roller skating with her.”
“I’d pay to see that.”
“My tailbone hurts thinking about it.”
“Have you been paying attention to the news?” Booker dug into his pocket for his phone. “Did you see the video I sent?”
