The Velvet Trap

ut saying a damn word. That's how we were tight, even when we were quiet. But seeing

o when we were kids except this time, his face looked older.

between relief and dread. "Y

e, arms crossed, scanning the ro

ing," he said. "Didn

on his knees. I knew that posture. Tolu didn't

out her,

st tig

need to sa

ecause hearing it out loud

o you think she is, Ken. S

ed. "You don't

und. I know you feel it too that tension, that pull.

e wanted to tell him to shut the hell up.

red the way she tou

ed when she thou

ched when I said

ut lies don't always feel lik

t sharp. "And I know that look in her eyes. I've seen it b

lin

n't mi

ng into stuff that hasn't been touched in a decade. And you think t

my desk. A small USB.

came from inside the Ibe Group. Internal files, Ken.

at it. Th

to find answers," he said.

breathe through the wei

rking with Julian?"

think she's working alone. T

want to b

other. Not by bl

re kno

ou," he said. "A

respond.

all the need and guilt and something

, headed f

just befor

e her,"

't a qu

n't a

ft an

the quiet, staring at th

t into my car

her at h

or, music low, brushes clinking in a jar like it was just

's voice stil

d, surpri

there, hands in my pockets, heart

faltered.

. She always had that effect, pulled gravi

to Tolu,

y stilled. Ba

is morning. Sa

sk what. Did

's files?" I asked, quieter this time.

it. Swallowed like she was tr

I

ie to me

m n

ay some

, like I might break. "I w

er laugh. "That'

tight. "You think t

a USB full of internal logs. Traces of you in places y

hed. "So you

I snapped. "And I'm standing her

hing. And the damn hum

ally said. "I didn't plan to meet

not an

to-toe. "Then ask the real question

t fury in her eyes, the way her han

y me?" I asked, voice l

dn't flinch

etween us

t your father. Not the name. You. An

gave way. Not breaki

t now?"

er head. "I

brushed her hand. S

d of quiet that only comes whe

't tru

me, I still

dea which woul