Makeover

I couldn't wait to tell Emily and Bastian what I had learned from Michelle. This was the real breakthrough. We had our first suspect, a potential killer... and I had already found myself on his radar. As soon as Michelle and I finished devouring the delicacies her Aunt prepared, I was ready to return to my desk with new power and commitment.

"Just try not to piss off Caesar... for a while at least." Michelle sounded genuinely worried for me.

"I don't have a death wish. I'll be careful," I assured her as I was about to walk out of the elevator car on our floor.

She grabbed my hand, pulling me to a halt. "Charlie." She lowered her voice and leaned over me. "I might be a bit paranoid, but sometimes I feel like those walls have eyes and ears. Just…" She paused, giving me a wry smile.

I patted her shoulder. "I get it. I'll keep that in mind."

I wanted to calm her down, but there was no one who would do the same for me. I was anything but composed until the rest of the day, and I might have