“To do my job properly. I went out to speak to someone about the case. I told Lydia. I told you. And you thought what? That I’d swanned out, and I was sitting in a coffee shop, sipping a mocha, chortling to myself as I texted you pretending to work? How old do you think I am? Twelve?”

“I—”

“Don’t answer that. Here’s what I was up to: First, I tried to speak to Jon Childs. He wasn’t home, so I visited Chris Pemberton, following up on your question about motive. I hoped maybe he might have some insight. Then I came here to see Todd and get the answers that Pamela won’t give. It’s work, Gabriel. It’s all work.”

I strode past him. He followed. Sadly, the prison doors moved too slowly for me to slam them in his face.

“Does it help if I apologize?” he asked.

“Let me give you a tip,” I said as I turned. “If you feel an apology might work, you don’t ask if it will. That defeats the purpose.”

I started to walk away, but he swung into my path. He pulled off his shades.

“I’m sorry, Olivia. You were correct. I was under a great deal of pressure, but that was no reason to take it out on you. I apologize.”

When I hesitated, his eyes widened, as if frantically trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. Shades off, check. Eye contact, check. Sincere tone, check. Clear and unambiguous wording, check.

“I mean it,” he said finally. “I am sorry.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning—”

“We haven’t spoken about your vision.”

“I thought I’d speak to Rose about it first.”

I wanted to tell Rose about Gabriel’s connection to Gwynn and get her opinion on how to tell him. I wasn’t punishing him. But his expression said that’s what he felt.

“I thought maybe you didn’t need the distraction,” I said.

“It’s not a distraction. It’s essential information for understanding the situation. We’ll discuss it over dinner. But first, you need to speak to Todd. I’d like to meet him as well.”

“Um . . .”

“Is that a problem?” His gaze met mine, that wall ready to fly back up.

I exhaled. “I guess not.”

It wasn’t the most enthusiastic response, but he pocketed his sunglasses and steered me down the hall.

—

Gabriel agreed to give me ten minutes alone with Todd. When they brought my father in and he saw me, he grinned, and when he did, I remembered what the little girl said: that he was Cwn Annwn. Of their blood. Like Ricky. When Todd grinned, I saw it. Not a physical resemblance, but something in the way his grin sparked, easy and genuine.