Page 29 of Silent Shadows

I pause.

“That feels statistically unlikely.”

“You say ‘statistically’ way too often,” Daisy says.

“And you record way too often.”

She gestures apologetically with the recorder. “Occupational hazard.”

I point at it. “That reminds me. Boundary update.”

Taylor groans. “Oh my God, he has updates.”

“I’m refining the system,” I defend.

“You made amendments to the recording constitution?” Jax asks.

“I haven’t even done anything yet!” Daisy protests.

“It’s not a constitution,” I reply to Jax, ignoring Daisy.

Daisy’s mouth twitches like she’s trying not to smile. Which makes me want to keep talking.

“Okay,” I say, turning toward her. “New rule. No recording active strategy discussions.”

Her brow furrows. “Why?”

“Because operational planning requires contextual understanding and partial conversations can create misleading interpretations.”

“That sounded rehearsed.”

“It wasn’t rehearsed,” I lie. It was maybe a little rehearsed.

She studies me for a second too long, as if she somehow knows.

God. She really is observant.

“Fine,” she says at last. “No strategy sessions.”

“Thank you.”

“But in exchange, I want access to interviews afterward.”

“That depends on the questions.”

“That’s literally the whole point of interviews.”

“Yes, but there’s a difference between productive inquiry and exploitative framing.”

She leans back against the cabinet, crossing her arms. “Whoa, you think I’m exploitative?”

“No,” I admit. “I think you’re trained to look for narrative.”

She tilts her head. “You don’t think you’re doing the same thing?”

I open my mouth.

Close it.