Page 86 of These White Lies

I’m sorry. I’m just really stressed right now. I didn’t mean all that. Look, Liz… I need your help. I’ve… um… gotten myselfinto a bit of a jam. You’re the best negotiator I know, and I was kind of hoping you would help me.

Another pause.

I’m in real trouble this time, Liz. Please call me back.

Sera tilts her head in my peripheral vision. “That’s… not what I expected.”

“Second one,” Brady snaps.

Finn cues it up, and Keith’s voice sounds through the room again. This time it’s noticeably more subdued, and I clench my fingers together in my lap. He sounds afraid.

Hey Lizzie. I know you’re still mad. You have every right to be. I don’t deserve help, but…

There is an odd gulping sound, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he was crying.

I thought about the day we got engaged today. The sound of the birds, the way you laughed and pretended to be surprised. Huh, I guess we both were guilty of the little white lies. You told me you loved me, and I was desperate enough to let you lie to yourself. I know I didn’t deserve you, but—God! I’m such a fucking idiot.

Keith roughly clears his throat

I wish you’d go back there. Maybe we could go together. Soon. I… Just… Just you and me one last time. There’s something I need to tell you.

His voice grows softer, and I have to strain to hear.

You’re the toughest person I’ve ever met, Elizabeth. If anyone can figure out how to get us out of this… I didn’t mean to… I thought I was buying time. But I think I’ve run out of it. Be safe Lizzie.

My hands are shaking now, and I blink rapidly trying to banish the tears. How had we gotten so far from that day? Keith was wrong. I had loved him. Maybe not the way I should have,but I did. The memory of that young couple starting out after college graduation has my heart breaking.

Damn it.Two tears slip free and slide down my cheeks.

Brady takes my hand and squeezes, before swiping away the tears on my cheeks with his thumb. The shock from his team is palpable, but Brady ignores them, bending to press a lingering kiss to my lips. “You’ve got this, Firefly… and if you don’t… Then I’ve got you.” The words are quiet, but there is no way the others don’t hear.

Sera hisses out a breath, but Finn and Vincent stay silent.

Brady straightens his hand still engulfing mine and says in a gruff voice. “Play the last one.”

Finn coughs, but then sound is playing again.

“Fuck! Liz. I’m sorry.”

The audio’s muffled and distorted, like the phone is in his pocket.

“He knew he was making the call,” Sera points out in a flat tone.

Keith’s voice comes through, tight and shaky.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything. She never—”A sharp cry follows.

Another voice, low and cold, “Who did you tell?”

“No one. I was just going to sell it.”

Keith’s pleading, but there is an odd, hopeless sound to it, like he knows it won’t do any good.

There are several dull thuds, then a scream.

“Lying will just make this take longer.”

I glance at Brady with surprise at the cultured female voice.