Page 483 of The Sinner: James

“Good. We have a deal then,” I say, fishing out a card from my pocket and tossing it on the table.

“This is the phone number where I expect your call,” I say, pointing to the handwritten number.

He collects the card and slides it inside his jacket pocket.

“How did I meet you?” he asks.

“You ran into me on the street.”

His eyes glint with disbelief.

“Use your brain. I don’t care what you tell them,” I say.

He pushes his chair back and rises.

“Before you leave...” I say, flicking my finger up.

He turns to stone.

I pick up my phone and call Thomas.

“A man in a leather jacket will exit the building within the next five minutes. Let him go,” I say on the phone.

I hang up.

Oleg looks at me.

“You better hurry if you don’t want to spend some time with him.”

Without a word, he spins around and dashes away.

Within seconds, I hear the main door opening and closing before his footsteps trail away.

7

JAMES

I exitthe building and walk down the street, counting the blocks.

Soon I spot where Isabella May lives. A reading light glows on the second floor making the inside of her place visible from the outside.

The curtains are tucked to the side, and a dark green sofa separates the bookcases propped against the wall.

A silhouette slides across, and I get a glimpse of the woman. Long, dark hair cascades down her back.

That’s her.

With the collar of my jacket popped high, I sneak behind the trees lining the sidewalk and catch the moment when Isabella May walks out of the room before climbing the stairs of the building across from hers and slipping inside her neighbor’s house without being seen.

Moments later, I knock on the door.

Steps move closer, and then all I hear is silence.

“Open the door.”

“Who is it?” a woman’s voice echoes behind the door.

“Tiago Rossi’s friend,” I say, my head tilted down, my face hidden in the darkness.

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