Reece’s eyes widened.
“But if you’re so interested in finding out—” Grayson leaned toward him.
Reece shrank away and shook his head rapidly.
“Good choice,” Grayson said dryly, pulling back.
Reece’s gaze went past Grayson. Cora hadn’t moved from where she’d passed out on the dry dock floor. She looked like she was sleeping, like the same old Cora, small, harmless, sweet as sunshine.
Reece’s throat tightened. She’d tried so hard to help him yesterday and look how he’d repaid her. “What are you going to do with Cora?”
“I gave you enough answers already.”
“Maybe I could—”
“No.” Grayson started to walk away.
“But I think her corruption is my fault,” Reece blurted.
Grayson paused, turning back toward Reece, and tilted his head like that didn’t make sense to him. “How do you figure?”
Reece might as well tell him; his truths were all out and he had no reason to keep secrets now. It would be a relief to confess. “I saw Cora yesterday, at the hospital, as her patient. She was trying to help me with my nightmares. She read me and passed out.”
“John Doe,” Grayson said, almost to himself.
“I think that read spread my corruption to her,” Reece said. “Please, let me try to help her, let me try to take the corruption back—”
But Grayson shook his head. “It wasn’t you.”
“What are you talking about?” Reece snapped. “Of course it was me. It had to be me; how else would she have—”
“It wasn’t caused by you on accident,” Grayson said. “It was caused on purpose, by bad people doing very bad things. And I’m gonna deal with them, just like I’m gonna deal with you, and with Ms. Falcon, and with Dr. Whitman, and with your sister. I’m gonna deal with everything. It’s what I do.”
“But—”
Grayson cut him off. “You didn’t corrupt Ms. Falcon.”
And despite everything, Reece found himself believing Grayson. Maybe later, he’d even be relieved. “But I could still try to help her.”
“No,” Grayson said. “If she gets her hands on you, shewilltry to make you a murderer.”
“And why would you care?” said Reece. “You just said corruption’s a one-way street. You said I’m already a monster and beyond hope. What have you got to lose by letting me try?”
Grayson hesitated, his gaze lingering on Reece. And then he turned away without a response.
“You could give an answer once in a while!” Reece glared at Grayson’s back. “Hey,” he snapped. “You made me a promise.”
“A team is already looking for Detective St. James,” Grayson said, not turning around, “and has been since the moment she ran.”
“AStone Solutionsteam?” Reece said, in horror. “No. I want you to do it.”
Grayson gestured around the dry dock. “I got two empaths keeping me busy.”
“You. Only you,” Reece repeated stubbornly. “And I want Jamey unharmed.”
Grayson did pause at that, turning to look over his shoulder. “She’s strong as a bear and out of her mind.”
“But you can still save her,” said Reece.
