Page 115 of A Smile Full of Lies
“I heard through the grapevine you two are shacking up together now. How’d that happen?”
I squirmed internally, dying to bolt, but his expression was fragile, and I knew him well enough to spot the explosive lurking underneath his calm, like a ticking time bomb. Abruptness could set him off.
“I’ve been having a lot of financial issues since Gran died. My power got cut off and Knox offered me a place to stay until I sort my shit out.”
Thayer stared at me, his gaze shuttered, as he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket. He shook one out and took his time lighting up, taking a long, slow drag and blowing the smoke over the top of my head before he spoke again.
He pursed his lips, his gaze darkening as his gaze bored into me.
“You fucking him, Ros?”
I crossed my arms, heat rising in my cheeks.
“My sex life’s not up for discussion, Thayer. We’re not together anymore, remember?”
“We could be.” His voice softened, edged with desperation. “You could’ve come to me for help when your money situation got bad, but your stubborn pride got in the way, didn’t it?”
I swallowed hard, looking away.
“Maybe it did.”
He studied me, then smiled faintly.
“It was good seeing you, doll. Why don’t you come grab a drink with me?”
Internally, I was screaming, my sense of calm fracturing, but I held it together.
“Yeah… it was really good catching up with you, but I’m actually meeting a girlfriend for late lunch in a few minutes. Maybe later on?”
Thayer nodded and offered me a crooked smile.
“Make it soon, okay? I’m sure you remember where my apartment is, so feel free to come by anytime. See you around, Ros.”
“See you, Thayer.”
I rushed away, my legs shaking so hard I wasn’t sure how the hell I was staying upright. My breaths came in short, ragged bursts until I reached Alyssa’s car. She was waiting for me, her piercing gaze full of wariness and concern.
“What happened?”
I spilled it all from the bump-in, to the Hollowing probe, to the living-together dig, to the drink invite. My hands shook, the encounter’s tension tangling with old bitterness and fresh fear.
Alyssa cursed.
“You set a perfect hook without even trying. Use it. Go to his place wired later today, play off that ‘another time’.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
We drove to the station, but Alyssa parked in the lot, glancing around.
“I can’t do this inside. It’s too risky and there are prying eyes everywhere. Give me five minutes and I’ll be right back. We’ll wire you here, in the cruiser. This op’s got to be completely under the radar until it’s over. One wrong move and I’m done.Even if this works, there’s a fair chance they’ll kick me off the force for going rogue.”
“I understand, and I really appreciate what you’re doing for me. I just… I can’t lose Knox. I can’t let him fuck up and do something stupid and go to prison. I spent years pushing him away but now that I gave in, I don’t think I can live without him.”
“One day,” Alyssa murmured, “I hope I find someone who makes me feel for them the way you feel for Knox. I’ll be right back.”
Five minutes later, in the back seat of her cruiser, she clipped the tiny mic to my bra. Once it was on, she taped over it, just to make sure it was secure. Then she had me put the transmitter in my pocket, testing the feed.
“Get the confession. Your backup is me, a block out from the apartment. Play vulnerable, get him talking. If he cracks, run for it. Don’t do dumbass hero shit.”
