Page 251 of Chameleon Killer

The diner went quiet around us. Not completely. There were too many people in here for that. Silverware still clinked. The coffee machine hissed. Somewhere a printer spat out an order ticket or maybe a receipt.

But the three of us in this booth went silent.

Brewster stared at me.

I stared back.

All at once, it crystallized. Not everything. Not even close. But enough.

I looked at Brewster. Really looked at him. “You're not afraid Simon is manipulating me.”

His expression didn't change.

“You're afraid I'll find something.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Mallory—”

I waved his next comment off. “You tracked us down after being ordered away from the case. I doubt you have authorization to speak to us, but you still came looking. You’ve spent this entire conversation telling me Simon is dangerous, manipulative, obsessed—” I shook my head. “But every time we get near a point, you change direction.”

“That isn't what I'm doing.” Irritation discolored every single word.

“Then why are you here?”

“To warn you.”

“About Simon?”

“Yes.”

“What about him?”

“He's using you.”

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. “Same song, different verse. But let’s cut it out at the refrain. I know he is. Just like I know you are.”

That stopped him.

“I know exactly what he's doing,” I continued. “What I don't know is why it scares you so much.”

Brewster's eyes hardened. “Because you have no idea who he is.”

He really wasn’t going to let this go. It was like he was throwing every reason he could think of, the strong, and the weak at the wall to see what stuck.

“Neither do you.”

“I know what he's capable of.”

“So do I.”

His expression turned stormy once more.

“We can go around in circles all day, Elliot,” I said. “Until you get so mad you walk off or I do. But you’re not going to control this story no matter how many roadblocks you put in my way. It just makes me that much more determined.”

“Dammit Mallory.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “This isn’t personal.”