It had been easier when he was impersonating a police officer on the phone. He didn’t have to look anybody in the eye, lie directly to their face. But this was different. He felt like he was about to step onto a stage, the crowd staring unrelentingly, judging his every move.

“I hate this shit,” Gary said.

“He said he’d only meet with Scott. And even that took some convincing. He thinks it’s his duty to meet Scott, the man who’s going through what he went through.”

“I know all this.”

“Do you remember where the key is?”

“On the display cabinet, left-side drawer.”

“And the hard drive?”

“In a lockbox in the TV unit.”

Lauren sat back, fiddling with her bracelet, which she’d been doing on and off since Gary had met her.

“Is that religious or something? You’re always fondling it.”

Lauren laughed, but it sounded forced. “I’m not fondling it. I guess it’s a nervous habit.”

“Why are you doing this? Whenever Scott talks about you, it’s always as a colleague, that’s it. But here you are, ready to break the law to help him. I told you why I’m willing to cross that line. But why are you? It makes no sense.”

Lauren let go of the bracelet, eyes flitting to the clock. “Two minutes.”

“You’re not… are you?”

Lauren looked at him, eyes narrowed. “Scott’s not really my type.”

Gary held her gaze, and then it hit him. “Oh, right.”

“Not a homophobe, are you?”

“No, but a few things are clicking into place now.”

“Please enlighten me.”

“You’re a young woman, with no dog in this fight. Scott means nothing to you. But you’ve chosen to involve yourself anyway. Which means you have a reason.”

“Yes…”

“You and Natalie were together. When she died, you decided to get close to Scott, to, I don’t know, to try to figure out what happened. That’s why you’re willing to go through all this, because of you and Natalie.”

Lauren pushed the car door open, standing up. “It won’t matter if we’re a minute early.”

“I’m right, aren’t I?” Gary followed her across the street. “That’s why you’re doing this.”

Lauren ignored him as she walked down the lane. Gary followed, annoyed she hadn’t shown him any sign, one way or the other. She knocked loudly on the door, as though taking her anger out on it, and then shot Gary a look. She all but said, Don’t mess this up.

Gary didn’t know what to do with his hands. He put them in front of him, crossing them over his middle, and then behind his back. He was figuring out if letting them hang at his sides was the best move when the door opened.

Markus stepped out. “Are you Scott?”

Gary nodded. “Markus?”

Markus spread his arms and wrapped them around Gary, squeezing him tightly. Gary didn’t know what to do. Of all the ways Markus would greet them, he hadn’t anticipated a hug. He patted Markus on the back.