Page 55 of Set Fire to This Cardhouse

“Such as?”

“His sister’s name. How his parents died.”

At the latter, Liu’s gaze sharpens, but he leaves it at a nod. He’s quiet for the time it takes to sip at his water, which he sets down to overlap precisely with the ring of condensation it left before. “I take it he looks good with his clothes off?”

What the fuck.

Toby has too much self-control to sputter like a little boy caught with a hand in the cookie jar, but it’s a close call. How did Liu know? It’s not as if Toby came back with his forehead stamped and bite marks in obvious places, and this is definitely the wrong moment to think about Mike naked, about the glorious slide of skin on skin, about—it’s the wrong moment.

“I don’t have to answer that,” he says calmly.

“No.” Liu’s tone is smug. “You really don’t.”

Toby chooses not to take the bait. “It’s my turn to ask a question.”

“Ask away.”

“Why did you retire from active field work?” Toby has always wondered—it’s not like anyone could have claimed that Liu was past his prime, that he was getting slow. Sure, it’s a promotion, and the logical next step in the career ladder for anyone wanting to hang around the Agency longer-term. Toby never had the impression Liu was bored, though.

“Good question.” Liu pauses while Bollywood music wails in the background, high-pitched female voices grating on Toby’s nerves. He doesn’t remember the music being quite that irritating in New Delhi, proving once again that in an attempt to be authentic, many foreign restaurants overtake the originals on the right, only to end up against a tree with clichés raining down. Or something along those lines.

“Waiting for an answer,” Toby reminds Liu.

“I guess I was ready to stop running at full speed.” Liu’s voice is thoughtful. “Not saying it has to be that way for everyone, but I was ready to feel like I had a home.”

Toby processes that, then nods seriously. “Makes sense. When did Jesy start training with the other recruits?”

“My turn,” Liu says, without batting so much as an eye. “What really happened in Ecuador?” At Toby’s sharp look, he shakes his head. “Oh, come on. You didn’t really think I bought your story about paperwork complications, did you? Mike is an even worse liar than you are.”

“I’m a good liar,” Toby defends himself, then realizes how that’s really not something a normal person would take pride in. Professional deformation, exhibit A.

“With people who don’t know you well, sure.” Liu’s smile softens the focus in his eyes. “So what happened—you shacked up in some hotel room?”

“Classy,” Toby tells him.

Liu gives him a patient look, and fine, fine. At least Liu isn’t asking about Mauritania. Yet.

“We went to Costa Rica.”

“Sex on the beach,” Liu says, a lazy, amused drawl. “Aloha.”

“That is not what happened,” Toby tells him. Not quite. “I would also like to make it known that your sudden and intense interest in my sex life is disturbing.”

“Honestly, I’m just glad to see you take an interest in someone.” Liu’s smile is thin, cautious. “I did witness the fallout with Jada, remember? Never met her, of course, but I saw what it took out of you. It’s nice to see you on the road to recovery.”

“The road to recovery,” Toby echoes, a little blankly. He’d call it a highway to hell, but potayto, potahto.

“And Mike, well.” Liu weighs his next words. “I’d like some credit here—called it, didn’t I, that the two of you could combine well? You need someone who challenges you. Plus he already knows what you do; that’s helpful.”

It’s not what Toby expected, and he’s not sure how he feels about Liu just pulling the carpet out from under his feet when Toby had it all figured out. “He’s also my field partner, in case you missed it.”

Liu gives him a shrewd look. “I was your field partner. Doesn’t mean we couldn’t become friends, too.”

“I thought the Agency doesn’t like that kind of thing.”

“Keep doing a good job, and I’ll handle the Agency. Or I can pair you with different people.”

That’s... well.

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