Page 36 of Hidden Chance

“That’s what I’d like to find out.”

“This would go a lot smoother if you’d fill me in onwhat you want me to confess.”

“All I want is the truth. Do you need help getting out of there?”

“No.” She climbed out, her body protesting in stiffness. “Where are we?” She looked around the underground parking garage. Different from the one they’d come from. There was only one other vehicle she could see, and it was covered with a tarp.

“That doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Why? What good will it do you? Besides, it’s on loan, so nothing that’s here today will be here tomorrow. Or at least by next week.”

She scoffed. “Can you at least tell me who you work for?”

“Didn’t I already do that?”

“I mean for real this time.”

“I wasn’t lying before.”

“What kind of government official punches a woman in the neck to knock her out? Or threatens the life of an innocent security guard?”

“I wouldn’t have actually hurt Titus. I was only bluffing to get you out the door. He’s a good guy. I didn’t want him involved in all of this. But don’t worry, I only hit girls when they’re the bad guys and only when it’s absolutely necessary.”

“So, in your sick, twisted little mind, I’m the bad guy? You don’t even have the decency to recognize what you really are?”

“And what’s that?”

“A deranged psycho, most likely.”

“You believe it’s wise to speak to a deranged man like that? Couldn’t I lose it and go crazy? Lose control?”

“Psychopaths have a great deal of control.”

“Then why are you trying to set me off?”

“I’m trying to get you to see reason. You’re not making any sense. I don’t know how you got it into your head that I’m a threat. I’m nobody.”

“Why don’t you come upstairs peacefully, and we can get a bit deeper into this thing. See if we can’t find some common ground.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because you don’t believe a word that I’m saying to you. Makes it sound like you’re not after the truth, just the story that goes along with the narrative in your head.”

“My perception of you has more to do with evidence than a made-up narrative.”

“What evidence?”

“Please, this way.”

All she could do was pray that God would give her the words she needed to convince Robby that she wasn’t involved in whatever it was he thought she was.

Tell him everything

The thought pressed into her mind. It wasn’t the first time that night. She’d felt the nudge back at the office, but she ignored it this time, just like the last. She’d given Robby all the information he’d asked for, and he hadn’t believed any of it. She wasn’t going to give him anything else.

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