Page 91 of The Grumpy Defenseman

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“He asked me not to let them have it,” I said.

Sandra went still beside me.

Not visibly. Not to anyone who did not know her. But enough.

Then she said, “Good.”

I turned to look at her.

She crossed her arms. “That means he still thinks you’re someone he can ask.”

That landed harder than it should have.

I looked back at the monitor before my face did anything undignified.

“Right-click,” Sandra said.

I did.

“Remove from mirrored review.”

I did.

“Purge cache.”

Done.

“Now the local Hold folder.”

My hand stopped.

Sandrasaw that too.

She did not speak right away. Which was kind.

Cruel, but kind.

Sandra leaned one hip against the desk.

“I’m not going to ask whether you delete it,” she said. “That part is above my pay grade and below my religion.”

Despite everything, I laughed.

It came out broken around the edges, but it was a laugh.

“Comforting.”

“I’m not trying to comfort you.” Her eyes flicked to mine. “I’m trying to keep you from making a decision for the wrong reason.”

“What’s the right reason?”

She nodded toward the file.

“That one.”

Deleting it because I was ashamed would have been panic.

Keeping it because I wanted it would have been appetite.

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