“That’s not what this is,” I say.
“Isn’t it?” he asks, his gaze locking onto mine. “Because from where I’m standing, you’re doing the same thing I am. You just don’t like how it looks.”
I step closer, my voice dropping.
“I don’t like unnecessary force.”
“And I don’t like wasted time,” he replies.
“Those aren’t the same thing.”
“They are when someone’s lying to your face.”
Renn presses himself further into the wall, eyes wide.
“I’m telling you everything I know,” he says quickly.
I hold his gaze for a second longer, then nod slightly.
“Then we verify,” I say.
Hrask watches me, something unreadable in his expression.
“You’re going to trust him?” he asks.
“No,” I reply. “But I’m not going to break him either.”
He studies me for a long moment.
Then nods once.
“Fine,” he says. “For now.”
The tension doesn’t leave.
It just shifts.
I look back at Renn.
“If you’re lying,” I say, my voice steady, “we’ll know.”
“I’m not,” he insists.
“We’ll see.”
I stand, the weight of everything settling heavier now.
When I glance back at Hrask, he’s still watching me.
Not the suspect.
Me.
“You’re going to get burned doing it your way,” he says.
“Maybe,” I reply.
“But you’re not stopping.”
