Page 100 of Chameleon Killer

“You slept with it?” he asked. “Didn’t you?”

“It seemed safer than leaving it on a table.” I kept my gaze on the board.

“Uh huh.”

“Don’t start.”

“I haven’t stopped.” The tension returned with startling efficiency.

I moved away from the board and paced the room while sipping my coffee.

Flint pivoted to watch me. “What do you think happens when you use that card?”

“A door opens.”

“Which door?”

I just shot him a look. “I don’t know. I figured I’d test it.”

“The only way to test it is to go early.”

“I know.”

“If you use it and it alerts him?”

I’d considered that. It wasn’t the best plan. “Then we learn he’s monitoring the card.”

“And lose the meeting.”

“Maybe.”

He just studied me with this skeptical frown. “You’re comfortable with that?”

“No.” Okay, maybe that came out too fast like his earlier answers. Too fast and maybe a little too defensive.

“Then we don’t test it.” The easy agreement made me suspicious.

“You just said we could clone it.”

“I said maybe.”

“You’re splitting hairs.”

“I’m calculating risk.”

“So am I.”

“No.” His voice hardened as irritation and anger flash fired in his eyes. “You’re calculating access.”

I lowered my cup. “What’s the difference?”

“Risk asks what can happen to you. Access asks what you might get if it does.”

I stared at him.

Flint didn’t look away.

“You sound an awful lot like Brewster at the moment.”