“That’s not what we learned at the testimony the other day,” Paris whispered.

“Hold still, both of you.”

He ran back into his bedroom and tore open the satchel in which he had stuffed the pillbox he’d been using to store Nikola’s earbuds. He returned to the living room to see that while Paris had obeyed the order to hold still, Nikola had not, and was not only looming over her but was using two of his long, spidery forefingers to fiddle with one of her box braids.

“Please don’t do that,” said Kaveh, taking the earbuds out of the pillbox. Nikola looked at him and withdrew his hand while Kaveh put in the bud to his right ear, feeling it conform to his ear canal. “It’s not appropriate to touch a Black woman’s hair without permission.”

“Kaveh,” said Paris, regaining her composure, “I think we can save the discussion on race and microaggressions for another day. Give him a pass.”

Kaveh moved to put in the second earbud, but paused mid-motion, then gave it to Paris. “Put it in your ear. It’ll conform to the shape of your ear canal.”

While she hesitantly inserted the earbud, Kaveh turned to Nikola. “Please, tell me you know where Cora is.”

“SHE IS UNDER MY PROTECTION, DEAR CLEVER CREATURE.”

He thought he might be able to stay upright before deciding, no, so overwhelming was his relief, his legs buckled and he fell down on to the couch next to Paris.

“Holy shit,” muttered Paris, presumably at the voice in her ears.

Kaveh wrapped an arm around Paris. He couldn’t help but laugh as he wiped a tear. “She’s alive,” he whispered. Paris returned the hug, shaking out of her stunned stupor and pulling him in.

As though he remembered that he was much less intimidating to humans when he was seated, Nikola pulled his arms under his chest and lowered himself onto the rug.

“Nik,” said Kaveh, wiping his eyes. “Where have you been? Why did you never contact me?”

“MY DEAR BELOVED DISAPPEARED FROM FEDERAL CUSTODY, AND I LEFT TO FIND HIM. I COULD NO LONGER ENGAGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR THE MILITARY, BUT I COULD NOT SAFELY INTERACT WITH YOU WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE MY DEAR BELOVED IS.”

“‘Dear Beloved’ is Jude, right?” Paris deduced. Kaveh nodded.

“I INTENDED TO CONTACT YOU ONCE I HAD SUBDUED HIM, BUT MY ATTENTIONS WERE DIVERTED BY THE POLITICAL SITUATION. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE DAMAGE NOBLE OBELUS HAD DONE, OF THE LIVES HE HAD TAKEN, NOR THE SCALE OF IT.”

“So he’s killed more than four people.”