Page 156 of What We Become

I watch the others file out—Sage gathering her files with Knox shadowing her like he always does, Eli and Micah already talking logistics for Wednesday, Milo trailing behind with his laptop open and his mouth still running about mattress depreciation rates. The door closes behind them, and the room goes quiet.

Odin turns to me. “Sit.”

I do. Thor shifts his bulk to give me more space on the couch.

“The report,” Odin says.

I take the folder from my bag and set it on the table, my fingers pinning it in place.

Rosaline Gable is printed across the tab.

Odin’s gaze moves over it. “How long have you had the completed version?”

“Long enough.”

“That wasn’t what I asked.”

“Since we got back from the cabin.”

Loki exhales through his nose. Thor says nothing.

“Promise me you aren’t going to ruin her,” I say, dragging it a little closer to me.

“I think you’ll find it’s a little too late for that,” Odin says.

“Yeah, I had a feeling after everything I found.” I sigh as I push the folder toward him. “Rosaline Marie Gable. Twenty-seven. She was completing her final nursing placement at Bayside General when you met her. She still works there. Included all her bank details, rentals, a few photos I found from driver’s licenses and socials, and a detailed breakdown of her extended family—of which there’s only a father in her life as far as I can see.”

Loki takes the folder from Odin and opens it, scanning the photo on the front page. “Her height and build match, as does the beauty mark on her right cheek.”

Match? Match what?

Loki hands it back, and Odin reads.

“She recognized you at the hospital, didn’t she?” I say slowly. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but when you read her name tag, she reacted before she could hide it. Left pretty fast after that.”

“Smart girl,” Loki murmurs.

“Frightened girl,” Thor corrects.

Odin reads without looking up. “Her bank account is empty?”

“Yep. She’s carrying high five figures in student debt, working hospital shifts, waitressing, tutoring, and walking dogs on Sundays. Her bank balance drops into single digits most months, but her rent is always paid.”

Thor’s mouth tightens. “Four jobs?”

“Yes.”

Odin’s visible eye lifts to mine. “There’s still not a lot here. You stopped digging,” he says.

“I established who she is. That’s the answer you wanted, right? You don’t need the name of every person she buys coffee from or a photograph of her walking home.”

“You decided what I needed?”

“Rosaline is good people, Odin. She’s barely got anything available because she lives like a fucking nun. She works, studies, and that’s it.” I shake my head. “She’s vulnerable, exhausted, and right now, she’s on the outside of this world. I know you’re not going to listen to me, but I want you to think long and hard before you drag her into it.”

“Like you did to Sage?” Loki’s fingers curl against Thor’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Detective. We’re not planning to drag Rosaline anywhere.”

I look at him. “You told me you wanted her.”