Page 20 of The Rat

“So soon?”

“The 007 wannabe isneeded.”

“When will you next be ableto call?”

“I’m not sure…”

Erica hummed. “There’sthattoneagain.”

“What tone?”

“The sad one.”

“I don’t have a sadtone.”

“Yeah, you do, you spoke in that tone formonths after dad died. Detached, distant, it awakens my protectivebig sister side, makes me wanna hug you and not let go.”

Rory bit his lip. “Ipromise I’mfine.”

“He’d be proud ofyou.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“Yeah, hewould—”

“I’m—I’m not who you thinkI am.”

“You’re my baby brother. Youtried and tried to get into the police force, kept getting knockedback, but you got there eventually.”

Rory gritted his teeth. Heremembered the constant rejection, over and over for years, andthat was before he got a chanceto take the entry test. He had threefailures to his name, then Hamish stepped in and helpedhim.

“You never gave up, and nowyou’re a spy.”

“I’m not a spy, I’m spyingon someone.”

“Smalldifference.”

“Big one.”

Morrisforcefully cleared her throat, thenlifted her eyebrow.

“Who was that?” Ericaasked.

“It was a toilet strugglingto flush.”

Morrisnarrowed her eyes and turnedaway.

“Eww, are you talking to me onthe toilet?”

“Yeah.”

“That’sdisgusting.”

“Look, I’vegot to go—”

“And unblock thattoilet.”

Rorysnorted, and the burning sensationreturned to his eyes. “I love you.”

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