Page 106 of Chameleon Killer

“He’ll know.” I didn’t doubt it. Not at this stage of the game. The Auditor had been meticulous about everything. He was a highly organized killer.

“Maybe.” But Flint didn’t sound unhappy about the idea.

“And if he cancels?”

Now, he turned and met my gaze. “Then he never intended to talk unless he controlled every variable.”

I considered that. “That would still tell us something.”

Flint nodded.

I hated how reasonable it sounded. I hated more that he had built the plan without me.

“You should have waited.”

“For what?”

“For me.”

He studied my face. “I wasn’t sure you wanted me involved.”

The words were quiet. They opened the fault line between us before I could brace for it.

“This is our investigation.”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

I knew. The apartment suddenly felt too small again.

“You backed away,” I reminded him.

“You told me I crossed a line.”

I didn’t scream or hit him. Though, I wanted to. “I told you that you were right.”

“After three days.”

“I needed time,” I said with a sigh.

“So did I.”

“For what?”

He looked toward the board instead of answering. That told me enough to make my pulse stumble.

“For what, Flint?”

His gaze came back to mine. The controlled neutrality I had come to hate was gone.

“I needed to decide whether I could keep standing beside you while you kept choosing every dangerous man in the room.”

Ouch. The accusation hurt. “Is that what you think I do?”

“I think you chase the person who knows the most, even when what he knows is exactly how to hurt you.” His voice was unnervingly even.

“That isn’t fair.”

“No. Probably not.” His voice stayed low. “But it’s true.”