Page 151 of Chameleon Killer

I tapped the pen against the notebook. “I don’t trust you. I believe you have information I need. I believe some of what you’ve told me can be independently verified. I believe you are manipulating the direction of my investigation.”

Yes.

The admission made me pause. “You admit that.”

Of course.

“Why?”

Because direction matters.

“That isn’t reassuring.”

It was not intended to be.

I smiled despite myself. “And if I stop going where you point me?”

Then you should.

That threw me. “What?”

If the evidence contradicts me, follow the evidence.

I stared at the screen. “If I discover you lied?”

Then expose it.

“If I discover you killed someone you claim you didn’t?”

Then expose it.

“If I discover you’re manipulating me for reasons that have nothing to do with Guy or Colin?”

Then expose that too.

My throat tightened. “You make it sound simple.”

No.

Nothing about this is simple.

For the first time all night, he didn’t offer a correction. No clever distinction.

I let the silence breathe.

Then I asked, “What do you want from me, Simon?”

The cursor blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Long enough that I thought he might refuse.

Finish the story.