Page 96 of Chameleon Killer

Flint lied rarely and badly. Not because he lacked the skill. Because he usually preferred obstruction to dishonesty.

I crossed to the board.

The address belonged to a nineteen-story office building near the river, built during the end of a commercial real-estate boom and abandoned during the legal bloodbath that followed. Three floors remained leased. Another two were used for storage. The rest existed in varying stages of renovation, neglect, and municipal dispute.

Someone had written the words ACTIVE UTILITIES: PARTIAL in the upper corner.

Flint’s handwriting.

I frowned. “You called the utility companies.”

“I called people who know people at the utility companies.” So casual. So relaxed.

I shot him a look. “That sounds suspiciously familiar.”

“What can I say?” He gave a careless shrug. “You’re a bad influence.”

I studied the images more closely.

The front entrance possessed a security desk, turnstiles, and three camera angles. The parking garage had two gates but only one appeared operational. The river side of the building had an elevated service entrance accessible from a narrow alley.

A map of the interior showed four elevator banks and two fire stairs.

“You got floor plans.” How long had I been asleep? Or had he just not slept?

“Public permit filings.”

Oh please. I didn’t snort, but I didn’t even try to hide my expression. “Those aren’t this detailed.”

“Not usually.”

I turned toward him. He returned his attention to the laptop.

There was a bruise beneath his right eye that had not been there the night before.

Small. Faint. Almost hidden beneath the shadow of poor sleep.

“What happened to your face?”

His hand rose reflexively, fingertips brushing the bruise. “Cabinet.”

“What cabinet?”

“One with poor depth perception.”

“You ran into a cabinet.” I didn’t even try to inject belief into that statement.

“Yes.”

“At the building?” I raised both eyebrows.

“No.” Too swift again.

I took a deep breath and released it before I asked, with as much of a smile as I could, “Before or after you went near it?”

His eyes narrowed.

Mine did too.