And then he leaned closer to me again, his voice dropping back to that private register that felt like stepping into a different world.
“Your mother didn’t die by accident.”
Everything inside me went still.
Not shocked. Not confused.
Still.
Because some part of me had been waiting to hear that out loud.
Victor moved fast after that—too fast. His partner tried to grab the file on the table, but Victor lunged instead, knocking into the edge of the booth as he reached for it like it contained something that couldn’t be allowed to leave the room.
The stranger reacted instantly, stepping between them, his hand tightening around mine for just a second before letting go so he could block Victor’s reach.
“Back off,” he said, and there was no warmth left in his voice now. None at all.
Marlene slammed the coffee pot down on the counter. “That’s enough! All of you! I’m calling the sheriff if this doesn’t stop right now!”
