Page 116 of Rat

Captain smiled, and Rory clutched his hand.

“Promise me you’ll look after Ollie.”

“You know I will.”

Rory swallowed. “And you’ll take care of yourself.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Rory squeezed Captain’s hand harder. “I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be… I get it, I really do. And Rory…”

“Yes?”

“You take care of yourself too, understand?”

Rory didn’t answer.

Captain dropped his hand, then pulled Rory into a tight embrace.

“Write to me,” he said, then he let go and turned away.

Captain closed the door softly behind himself, and Rory collapsed on his chair. He held his face in his hands and rocked back and forth.

The door opened, and Rory knew the governor was standing behind him. “Are you ready to see Sebastian?”

Rory lifted his head. He wasn’t ready, he’d never be ready, but he had to do it.

“Yeah.” He grabbed his letter off the desk and got to his feet. “Let’s go.”

The governor opened the hatch, then stepped away. Rory kneeled on the floor, and when Sebastian’s face appeared in the opening, it took all his willpower not to break down in front of him.

“Rory? What the hell?” His eyes were round with worry, and he searched Rory’s face for answers. Rory couldn’t meet his gaze. He stared at the floor.

“Hey…” Sebastian mumbled, reaching through the hatch.

“Hands inside,” the governor muttered.

Sebastian huffed, then retracted his hand. “What’s wrong?”

“What Pauly said…” Rory took a deep breath. “It was true.”

Sebastian leaned away.

“I’m a police officer. My inspector planted me here to gather information on you.”

“Inspector…Hamish?”

Rory nodded, then looked down at the letter in his hand.

“I wrote you this. It explains everything. What I did, how I feel about you. Read it; you’ll never see me again, I swear. I’m going away—”

“I don’t want a letter.”

Rory scrunched up his face. “Please, please read it. I need you to.”

“No,” Sebastian snapped.

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