Page 274 of Chameleon Killer

I looked at him. “Why not?”

“Because Elliot is correct.”

Well, that shut me up.

Brewster blinked.

Simon continued. “I gave you information selectively. I withheld other information. I anticipated how you would respond and used that response.”

“Manipulated me.”

“Yes.”

The answer hurt more than I wanted it to. Simon saw that. He didn't apologize. Oddly, I respected that more.

Brewster gave me another shake. “Now do you understand?”

I looked at him. “You had Flint shot.”

His expression cracked. “That's different.”

“No.”

“Mallory—”

“You killed Guy.”

“He killed people.”

“Guy?”

“No.”

“Colin?”

Silence.

So, I looked at Simon. “Did Colin kill anyone?”

“No.”

Brewster swung the gun toward him. “Shut up.” He wasn’t an FBI agent or a scorned lover. No he was just a frightened man holding a weapon because the facts refused to fit the narrative he composed.

I stared at him. “You killed Colin.”

“He was compromised.”

“By Simon?” The lies wouldn’t stop. Would they?

“Yes.”

“No,” Simon said.

Brewster's finger tightened against the trigger. “Shut the fuck up.”

Simon didn't move.

“You wouldn’t listen to me,” Brewster said as he turned toward me. “You trusted The Auditor more than me.”