Page 28 of Chameleon Killer

That time I said nothing.

Sykes lowered her voice even further and put a light hand on my arm. “She’s a reporter. A witness. Maybe a target. But she is not your asset.”

“She’s alive because I’ve treated her like one.”

“Is that what you’re calling it?” The judgment-laden skepticism in her tone had me turning fully.

This went beyond overstepping.

“She gave a serial offender a name on live television. She created a feedback loop. The offender adjusted behavior in response to her coverage. Two people close to her are now dead.”

I ticked off each item like a bullet I was firing.

“So yes, I’m going to monitor her movements, her contacts, and anyone who gets near her until we know how the killer is using her.”

I meant every single word.

Sykes studied me anyway. “Then monitor everyone equally.”

“I am.”

Her gaze flicked to the screen where Mallory stood beside Carter in Guy Reardon’s office.

“No,” she said. “You’re not.”

The room went quiet enough that I heard the HVAC cycle on. Flores kept typing. Smart man.

I looked back at the monitor.

Carter stood too close to Mallory as they spoke. He didn’t reach for her. Didn’t guide her. Didn’t interrupt. He simply stood where she could feel him if she needed to.

“He’s becoming a problem,” I said, more to myself than anyone else.

Sykes followed my gaze. “Carter?”

“He enables her.”

“He’s her news director.”

“He’s encouraging her to take greater risks.”

“Is he?” Sykes sounded skeptical. “From what I’ve seen so far, he protects his sources and his reporters.”

I watched Mallory say something to Carter. He answered. She looked down at the file in her hands and then back toward the door.

The consultant appeared in the hallway feed again, exiting Reardon’s office.

“Hold,” I said.

Flores froze the frame.

Mallory appeared a second later.

She and the consultant faced each other.

No audio.

Only body language.