I steel my gaze on him, without looking like I’m scared or even surprised to see him. No, this asshole doesn’t deserve a flinch from me.

“How are you doing?” he asks.

My mind rushes through all of the possible explanations and reactions. What should I say? How should I act?

“I’m fine, given the circumstances,” I say with a casual shrug. “And you?”

“Good, good,” he says, nodding his head.

He stares at me and I stare back.

We both know why he’s here. The first two FBI agents couldn’t get anything out of me, so he’s here to do what they couldn’t do.

He is here to make me admit something.

He’s here to rattle me.

He’s here to break me.

“Are you surprised to see me?”

I shrug.

“I’m sure you are given that you thought that you would never see me again after that day at the mall.”

This is what they call ‘leading the witness.’ I don’t take the bait. I just sit back in my chair and lift up my chin in the air.

“You remember that day, Nicholas?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say.

“Are you denying the fact that we met at the mall?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

My thoughts return to our last meeting. It was out in public with lots of people around and, more importantly, with cameras recording our every move.

“Maybe,” I say, tilting my head to one side. “Maybe not. I’m going to tell you what I told the other two agents. I’m not admitting to anything or confirming anything until my lawyer gets here. I know my rights and I intend to use them.”

“That would be a very big mistake, Nicholas. ‘Cause you see, I can help you. I’m here for you.”

Like you were there for me before? I’m tempted to say. What a fucking joke!

“I’m just here to help. I know that you have your side of the story and I know that you didn’t kill anyone.”

He’s tempting me.

He’s saying that he believes me when we both know that he doesn’t.

And even if he does, it’s just a lie anyway. The only reason he’s here is to get a confession.

“I know you didn’t kill anyone,” Art says, leaning closer to me. “The thing is that they don’t know that.”

He nods back at the camera as he says the word ‘they.’ He’s on my side. He’s trying to be my friend again.

“I had a choice, Nicholas. They found out about my little indiscretion and Internal Affairs were after me. The only way I could get out of it was to tell them what I know about you.”