Page 284 of Chameleon Killer

“It can be two things.”

Flint sighed. I smiled. Some things survived trauma. Apparently, irritating Flint Carter was one of them.

I uncapped the red marker and drew a line from the photograph to the name of a construction company that had received four city contracts in eighteen months despite having no employees, no equipment, and an office address belonging to a UPS Store.

Behind me, Flint made another sound.

I glanced over my shoulder. “Problem?”

“You’re using red.”

“Yes.”

“We agreed red was confirmed.”

“It is confirmed.”

“No.” He walked toward me, coffee mug in one hand. “We confirmed Daugherty met with Sorrell twice. We confirmed Sorrell’s company received the contracts. We have not confirmed the envelope contained money.”

“I didn’t say it contained money.”

“You put a red line between them.”

“Yes.”

“Which implies⁠—”

“Nothing. It connects two confirmed facts.”

His eyes narrowed. I smiled sweetly. He took the marker out of my hand.

“Hey.”

“Yellow.”

“Red.”

“Yellow,” he repeated firmly. “Until we know what was in the envelope.”

“You’ve become incredibly rigid since leaving corporate media.” Lips pursed, I considered him. “Maybe you should talk to someone.”

“I’ve always been rigid.”

“That is absolutely not how I would describe you.”

His eyebrows lifted.

Then I realized what I’d said.

He smiled.

“Don't,” I ordered.

“I didn't say anything.” Too innocent. Way too innocent.

“You were going to.”

“I was thinking loudly.”