Lila shook her head. “Think about it, though. Everyone he bribed has lived in New Bristol or near it. Plus he had to have access to Bullstow in order to plant his trap in the code. I think he’s local, and I don’t think he’ll want to move yet.”
Will he try to hurt you again?
“I don’t think so, at least not until he realizes who Prolix is. Patrick pushed him into coming after me. It wasn’t Zephyr’s idea.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t try again now that the idea is in his head,” Tristan pointed out. “He’s dug himself into a hole, and people do stupid things when they’re panicked.”
What next?
“I find Zephyr before he finds me.”
Tristan perched on the coffee table across from her. “Chief,” he said, rescuing the pillow in her lap and placing it beside her.
It was just one simple word. One word said in the place of another.
She’d grown to enjoy the way he said her name, his rolling accent, the way he stretched the vowels.
That was gone now.
“What?”
“Ask for help.”
She almost chuckled. “Chief Shaw can’t—”
“Not from Shaw.”
Lila leaned back against the couch, finally understanding. “You want me to ask you for help? You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Not even a little. Is it so hard to ask your friends for help?”
“Friends?”
“Yes. Friends.”
“That’s an interesting word coming from you. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can do this on my—”
“Maybe you can, but you don’t have to.”
Lila snatched the pillow back and curled her legs underneath her. “Fine. Help me find Zephyr, then.”
Tristan nodded and pulled out his palm. It was his usual stance when starting a new job.
“I suppose you want money?” she asked.
“No.”
“What do you want, then?”
“Nothing.”
“You always want something.”
“You might not believe this, but most of the jobs you’ve asked us to participate in, we would have done for free. They nearly always align with our interests. You always want to give us something, though, as if you wouldn’t trust us otherwise. It’s why I always make deals with you. That’s all you understand.” He tapped on his computer for several seconds before looking up at her expectantly. “Tell us everything you know about Zephyr.”
Dixon moved to the couch, his notepad in his lap, ready to chime in.
“You must want something.” Lila’s eyes straying over Tristan’s face.