118 Falling Back on Fears (2/2)

”No. Not that...” he chuckled. ”We're this close to getting the man. He's nothing but a scavenger, easy to catch seeing how he let himself be known.” I bit my lip.

”It is the fact that he let himself known that bothers me. Carol didn't pause before talking about this man in the white shirt. She gave me all the information she knew without a hint of deception. If she was told to withhold the information, she wouldn't even have mentioned him. I suspect he told her to tell us about him. He is letting himself be known.”

Sebastian thought about it for a moment. ”So, you are telling me that he is declaring that the game has just begun?” I nodded. That was exactly what I thought. ”And he is boastful. No one who is this confident gets away with crime, Evie. We have solid leads on him and once we get his name, we can have a full investigation into him and catch him for the smallest things.”

I shook my head. ”He doesn't commit crimes, Sebastian. He inspires people to do it. He enjoys being the puppeteer. You know this very well. We can't catch him for anything.”

”But we can inform the intelligence agencies to be aware that he is doing something of this sort. Baiting and abetting a crime is severe.”

I shrugged. ”Do you think I am wrong then? In instigating her and scaring her to give us information?” I demanded.

”A little. I just hope this is not seen as coercion in court. I'll talk to Nash about it. For now, let's talk to Carol and see if she wants to speak to her mother.” He sighed.

”The woman looked at you strangely, too,” I mentioned. He paused in his step and looked at me incredulously.

”Did I just hear Evie Marie Lewis being jealous?” I rolled my eyes at his exclamation.

”Dream on!” I snickered.

”Very well. A man can hope.” I saw him grin and shook my head in amusement. So easily satisfied, this man.

We went into the room where they were holding Carol. Hearing our footsteps, the girl looked up. ”Evie, you are back,” she smiled. It was indeed fake, but the hint of excitement in her eyes made me aware that she was pleased with my arrival. ”And who is this with you?” she looked over to Sebastian.

”He's my colleague,” she introduced.

”You're very handsome. Much more handsome than the men my mother brings home,” she said with a light giggle.

”Why thank you. Even more handsome than the man in the white shirt?” Sebastian asked casually. Smooth talking, man.

”Him?” she scrunched her nose. ”He looked...” she thought about it carefully. ”I can't really remember how he looked. It's strange.”

”Then I am definitely more handsome than him,” Sebastian joked.

”I suppose,” Carol said lightly. ”But your eyes...” her head tilted to the side. ”I thought he was talking about Evie, but it could be you, too.” She clapped her hand.

”What?” Sebastian asked, acting dumb.

”He said that you would understand me. Do you understand me?” she asked. So, this was another one of her needs: to talk to people who understood her. Who didn't see her as a monster.

”Perfectly. I am very good at it,” Sebastian admitted.

”Then you are who he was referring to,” Carol said with conviction. ”Evie could kill people but she is too polite. She pretends really well, too. You don't need to pretend, do you? You do as you please. I like that.”

Yes, he didn't need to pretend.

”Are you tired of pretending, too?” Sebastian asked, crouching down in front of her. Carol nodded. ”Then, do you want to tell your mother the truth? She should know, shouldn't she?” Sebastian's face held no smile.

”What about?” Carol asked, confused.

”Anything you want to tell her.” Sebastian shrugged.

”Anything?” she squeaked.

”Anything,” both Sebastian and I reassured at the same time.