Chapter 6 - The Officer's One Word
Ten minutes later, a security officer named Patricia arrived and confirmed Gerald's account. They'd been watching three suspects. Wesley had entered my cabin with what security believed was a duplicated keycard, expecting to lift valuables. Instead he'd taken the whole suitcase. Gerald had followed, Wesley spotted him and ran, then tried forcing his way into another restricted zone, which tripped the alarm.
"Was I in danger?" I asked Patricia directly.
She paused. "We had no evidence he intended physical harm."
"That's not what I asked."
She nodded. "There was risk."
I respected her for the honesty.
"Should someone have told me?"
Another pause. "Yes."
That single word mattered more than any apology could have. Not that everyone meant well. Not that they'd been protecting me. Just an admission that I should have known.
Patricia said the investigation had prioritized identifying the rest of the group. Once they confirmed someone was actively tracking me, they should have told me sooner.
I gave my statement. I collected my suitcase. Gerald walked me to the guest elevator.
"Eleanor."
I turned. He looked older than he had all week. Not charming. Not mysterious. Just tired.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"For which part."
May you like
"For meeting you under false pretenses." He waited a beat. "For not telling you the moment you stopped being an assignment to me." My throat tightened. "And for letting you get pulled into something dangerous without ever giving you a say in it."
That last one mattered most. I nodded, and stepped into the elevator. He didn't follow.
