“I need to speak with them,” he says.
“No,” I reply.
Flat.
Immediate.
His jaw tightens.
“This is an active investigation—”
“I don’t care.”
That lands.
Hard.
The room shifts.
Again.
The lead agent looks over.
Watching.
Measuring.
Always measuring.
“You’re interfering,” the agent in front of me says.
I tilt my head slightly.
“Try me.”
His lips press into a thin line.
“Step aside.”
I don’t.
Not even a fraction.
“Not happening.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tight.
Then—
The lead agent steps forward.
I’m not even a little surprised.
He’s the one who thinks he can control this.