Page 137 of Tell Me All Your Lies

“No, I won’t be long.”

We take a few steps forward.

“Want to sit?”

“Sure.”

Brad and I take opposing seats in the living room. One of his legs shakes nervously as he keeps his hands in his pockets and looks around.

“Why did you do it?” he finally asks.

“Do what?”

Brad’s face snaps over to mine.

“Fred. Why were you really in his house? How did you know about the cameras? Don’t fucking lie to me,” he says.

“I didn’t trust Fred, and it looks like I was right.”

Brad takes it in.

“What are you doing here, Brad? Did Taby send you?”

Brad laughs in disbelief.

“You know, I warned you. I warned you that this wasn’t the place for you and Cara.”

“What are you doing here?” I repeat.

Brad pauses, and a more serious look appears.

“Taby didn’t send me. The Marlin did.”

I swallow thickly.

“The Marlin.”

“Yeah. You’ve caught the eye of the Marlin. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“What does the Marlin want from me?”

“Here,” he says while taking out a piece of scrap paper.

I take it and open it. Scribbled on the paper are the details that Cara and I had found in Fred’s office for the meetup.

“What’s this?”

“Meetup of the minds, my friend. It’s happening.”

“Everyone working for the Marlin?”

“That’s right. It’s going to be a mess.”

I study Brad.

“Why do you say that?”

“Taby’s crew aren’t the only ones coming. She’s just been the most helpful to the Marlin. That’s why everything has been happening here. The leaders in Chicago and New York failed.”

---