“Not a compliment.” He took a step from the board, eyes moving from one image to the next. “I missed it. That’s a lapse in analysis.” I still took it as a compliment.
The longer I stared, the more I kept coming back to Tia’s photo. Keyes had included it. But for her to use it as a decoy meant… Did she know I was Hellion? “Connor, what’s the probability that Keyes has been sending assassins to kill me?”
“I’m not a calculator.”
I thought back to my first run-in with them. It hadstarted before I met Keyes. Unless she could see into the future, that didn’t make sense. “I faced the Trident before being assigned to this case.”
Leaning in until my nose almost touched the photograph, something looked off. I might not be a living computer or have access to the city’s camera network, but I had a skill unlike any other on the planet. This wasn’t the bone-crunching vigilante, just a regular superhero with simple powers. “The lighting is off.” The color of Tia’s dress is all wrong. Something blocked the light, as if there were an object standing immediately to her side.
“Can you do your magic?”
“Magicians wish they could do this.” At times, he made it obvious that Orion had programmed him. “It appears something has been erased from the photo.” One square at a time, he returned whatever had been taken out. After a second, the outline of a person appeared. When he finished, Ms. Keyes stood next to Tia in an innocent photo-op.
“I don’t need to be a supercomputer to know that’s damning,” he said.
“I don’t know if she has any involvement with the assassins,” I said, “but I think we found the person causing havoc at Synergy.”
“Who would suspect the head of Human Resources of being in charge of bad hires?”
“Your sarcasm is noted.”
Connor patted me on the back. “Thanks.”
I’d have the rest of the night to replay every conversation with Catherine. She had done an amazing job of manipulating me, creating a tense situation so I’d jump in. I wanted to be angry, but I couldn’t direct it at her, not entirely. My inability to let discomfort exist in the office had allowed this to happen. Drew had been a doormat she walked all over. The next time we met, she’d have to deal with Drew and his less-than-friendly alter ego.
“Do you want me to alert the team?”
“No.” I spat out. “I mean, not yet.”
“You know they’re worried.”
“I know.” I still wasn’t entirely convinced. Not of their concern, I believed that. It was the confession I feared. If I could solve this riddle, then maybe it’d soften the blow of revealing my truth. “Let me solve this first.”
I had everything I needed. Tomorrow morning, I’d have a little chat with Ms. Keyes. It looked like we both had secrets. By the end of the day, she’d be in handcuffs, and Booker and I could celebrate our victory.
“Do me a favor?”
“Of course,” I said.
“Tell that hussy to leave my ex alone.”
“Did you just say hussy?” I didn’t think Connor harbored lingering feelings for Apex. Apparently, I misjudged him.
“Illogical, I know, but I’m only human now.”
Hearing him admit his humanity made me smile. If he could evolve beyond his programming, then perhaps there was hope for us all. “Consider it done.”
“Now leave. I’m ready for more satiating.”
And with that, I headed home, knowing that we had broken the case.
17
“Keep your cool.”
In the hallway, I took a steadying breath. I had broken out the crimson tie and bright white dress shirt. Normally, I didn’t wear a suit jacket in the office, but today I wanted to make a statement. Silver cufflinks glimmered, completing the look. Nobody had given me a second look as I walked into Synergy. A temp at Tia’s desk hadn’t bothered looking up as I let myself in and snaked through the hallways.
“You’ve got this.” The suit might be my business attire, but I was entering Keyes’ office ready to raise hell. I arrived before Booker, hoping to keep the conversation about my identity a secret. I wanted to tell him… I think. That was a conversation that needed more preparation.
