Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
-Confucius
ROSEANNE
Felix's eyes almost bulge out of his head as I walk in with Lisa. Lisa slides her arm around my waist like she's ready to protect me, as though Felix is about to do something stupid.
I lace my fingers together with Lisa's, as Felix continues to gawk at me.
"Are we under arrest?" Felix asks, so confused that it's almost comical.
Lisa grunts out a breath, and I lean against her. "This is neutral ground. No talk of killing people, and no talk of arresting," Lisa finally says. "As of right now, there is no talk of this town or what's going on inside it."
Felix looks between us, his eyebrows still raised as he keeps the laptop in his lap. The monitors all around have the town from various angles, and Lisa glances at each one.
"That explains a lot," she says on a long breath. "You really have the entire town under surveillance. But yet I haven't spotted a single camera."
"I thought we weren't discussing the case," Felix says warily.
Lisa pinches the bridge of her nose, and I stifle a sad smile. She's in love with her job and curious by nature. Right now she's suffering the ultimate battle of right and wrong; a confliction I haven't faced in a long time.
That struggle I see in her eyes is my fault.
"It's NSA tech Felix swiped a few years ago, and he built his own versions," I explain.
Felix looks like he's about to fall off the couch, but I shrug like it's no big deal. "The monitors cover all the most important parts of town, and we stay with the sheriff, watching his every move. We also keep a close eye on the deputies. It's how I knew Hollis was coming after you."
I don't look at her as I say the words as emotionlessly as possible. But my voice unfortunately cracks and betrays me on that last sentence.
Lisa's hand tightens on my side, and she pulls me to her, hugging me against her. I take in her scent, closing my eyes, soaking it all in while I can.
She doesn't know what's to come, because she can't see all the conversations the way we can.
"So you're safe here?" Lisa asks, the heartwarming concern in her tone coupled with a defeated sigh. She knows which route I'm going to choose, even though her option sounds better.
"It's not just about me," I say
She breathes steadily, but I can tell it's with strain.
"Just like it's not just about you," I add, clutching the front of her shirt. "You're good. I won't take that away."
She starts to speak, when suddenly the front door opens, and I turn in time to see Somi stumble in, her eyes wide and fixed on Lisa.
Her mouth opens and closes several times before finally locking shut. Then it pops back open. "What's going on?"
"I'm wondering the same thing," Felix says, not moving from his spot on the couch.
Lisa groans, and I tug her hand. "We're going to the bedroom to have a night off."
"Four bodies is your idea of a night off?" Somi asks dryly.
I grimace, but Lisa doesn't make an expression as she follows me to the bedroom.
I hear whispers erupt in the living room as Felix and Somi panic a little, but I shut the door on them and lean back on it, studying the woman in my temporary bedroom.
