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I stared at him.Wait, what? Why would they do that?I thought for a moment.And why only you? Why not the company?

No one else in the company is supposed to know Rucker is dead,Black sent, matter-of-fact.Didn’t I mention that?

No,I sent testily.You didn’t. Black, I just signed an N.D.A.––

Yes,he cut in.But it makes no mention of you knowing anything about a murder, or about Rucker being dead. I was extremely clear about the wording with them, and made them rewrite your agreement before I’d agree to sign my own. The N.D.A. you signed only mentions nondisclosures aroundtechnology and proprietary information… and mentions you will be aiding me to investigate Rucker’sdisappearance… nothing about his death. I added an indemnify clause to my own contract that specified I won’t risk my staff by allowing them to engage in willfully illegal behavior without prior approval.

I opened my mouth, closed it.

But you didn’t do that for yourself?I asked, incredulous.

I didn’t want it for me,he sent.I want access.

But aren’t all three of us going to see his dead body right now?I asked, exasperated.

You’renot going to see anything of the kind,he corrected, a touch sharper.I know you hate dead bodies, doc.

At my scowl, he shrugged.

And I might be going to see a dead body, doc, but you won’t be in the room for that. You’ll be talking to Rucker’s people, and hopefully reading them for information. I’ll also insist they turn the cameras off in any room where I’m looking at Rucker, and I plan to read everyone I can in every room I enter. I’ve already been doing that, in fact… including with these human assistants you’re being ridiculous about.

He motioned subtly towards the admin with the shocking blue eyes.

I felt my jaw harden, but only folded my arms.

What about Nick?I asked.What’s he doing while I read people and you look at dead bodies?

Black hesitated, but I could already feel his answer.

I need Nick with me,he admitted.He’s got that creepy vampire smelling thing, and he can get a hell of a lot more information off a dead body than I can. He’ll know if they’re lying to us about a number of things around cause of death, drugs, time of death, etc. He signed the same N.D.A. I did. We discussed this before you got back to the office, and he agreed.

Nick cansmellthat?I asked, incredulous.Whether the person was on drugs?

He can,Black confirmed.You’d be completely disturbed and blown away at what that deviant little fucker can smell.

I snorted an involuntary laugh.

I turned it into a cough and covered my mouth.

Black’s gold eyes flickered towards mine.

I saw heat in them briefly, right before they grew serious.

I was very clear with these people about how much I wanted you to know,he sent, softer.I also plan to erase any trace of Nick being in that room with me, if it’s at all possible. Neither of you will be told anything specific about the police’s involvement or non-involvement with any of this, not by any of Rucker’s people. Not by me in front of Rucker’s people. Not inside this building, where they’re likely to have surveillance inside every room. If they break any of that, I call the cops. There’s a damned good chance I’ll call the cops anyway.

A pulse of anger left Black’s light.

I don’t trust them,he continued, blunt.In case that part’s not incredibly clear. For the same reason, do not talk about any of this while we’re here. Nothing about Lucian’s death, the fact that no one called the police, or anything that could be used against one of us later. I’ve already warned Nick the same. As far as you know, Lucian Rucker is missing right now. Not dead…missing… and that’s all you know.

I grunted, but didn’t argue.

Black continued to stare straight ahead as the elevator descended.

This is all just temporary, doc,he repeated, quieter in my mind.We’ll regroup when we leave here and decide. I figured it made sense to have me and Nick looped into this from the outset. It would be harder for either of us to claim we simply “didn’t notice” the police hadn’t been involved, given he’s ex-homicide and I’ve worked contracts with the S.F.P.D.andthe F.B.I. There’s enough documentation that I know procedure––

I can’t deny I know procedure, either,I pointed out.I worked for the cops for years.

True,Black conceded, without missing a beat.Which is why you won’t be in the room with Lucian’s corpse, but handling a different part of the interrogation.Seeing my doubtful look, he added,Look, if it comes down to it, I’ll just erase fucking everyone, doc. I’ll send in a team, and we’ll remove every trace. Problem solved.