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I throw the door open and wish I hadn’t.
Sean stands in my doorway, looking me up and down, and his face settles into what I can only describe as contempt.
“Sean. Is everything all right?”
I step back as he invites himself in. I hold a hand to my throat, willing my pulse to steady. He walks to my bar and considers a drink, but he must find himself too distracted because he rounds on me empty-handed.
“We’ve been friends a long time, Phoenix, haven’t we?” he asks, his voice calmer than the red rising on his cheeks.
“Yes, we have,” I answer carefully. He shoves his hands into his pockets and walks toward the window, peering down at the city.
“And you’ve known how I feel about you for—how long now? At least a year?”
Longer, really, but I keep quiet. I nod, biting the inside of my cheek. There is a slow building of dread curdling in my belly.
“So imagine my surprise when I realize that I don’t know you at all.”
“Of course you do,” I tell him. I swallow hard and continue. “You know the things about me that are important.” It sounds false even as I’m saying the words, but I can’t stop. “What’s happened, Sean?”
“I know what you’ve done,” he says simply. “You kept leaving that night. You were acting strange. So I followed you. I saw you leave and come back dressed differently…I saw you running into the woods carrying something. Now I knowwhothat was. I didn’t want to think you were capable—” He shakes his head.
I step back and the backs of my legs hit the chair. I sit down.
“You used me, Phoenix. To steal a baby,” he says.
“I didn’t steal a baby. I returned a baby to his mother.”
“You know what I mean. You put my career at risk...the Blue.”
“Sean…” I rub a hand across my forehead. How could I possibly explain this? He is going to hate me either way. “I’m truly sorry for that...I never wanted to put you in that position. I hoped and prayed it would never come back on you in any way. Who knows besides you?”
Both of our Silverbooks go off, hovering and flashing that there is a Regionwide Alert.
I jump up and try to turn it off, but it keeps flashing. It sets my nerves on edge, but he ignores the alert and so do I. He also ignores my question.
“What have you gotten yourself involved in, Phoenix?”
“I never meant for this to happen.”
“But it did, didn’t it?”
I stare down at my hands.
“They’re investigating everyone at the party. They’re coming to see you.”
I look up suddenly, Sean’s eyes boring into me.
“I’d get to that little house you have in the country before they find your guests,” he says.
I go still, the pit in my stomach growing. “You’ve been watching?”
He shrugs and looks away. “I had to know for sure. You haven’t been at the apartment when I’ve stopped by. So, I followed you yesterday from the theater and saw someone who looked just like Gwen Allison holding a baby…in your house.” He shakes his head. “When you took the baby from her and held him, I knew.” He rubs his eyes with his fist and looks at the ceiling. “They can’t continue to stay there, Phoenix. This is all going to blow up onyou.”
Keep the peace, I tell myself over and over.Keep the peace, and get him out of here.I shiver then put my head in my hands and nod.
“Thank you for telling me.” I stand up and move toward the door. His next words stop me.
“Are you sure all the cameras weren’t working the night you took Rebel?” he asks, reaching into his pocket.
