Page 44 of On Fire

Nic’s eyes narrow. “There was a lot going on that night. Jackson was injured and suffering a hearing loss. I was trying to determine if there were injuries, fire and police swarmed the site, and I wanted to be sure I gave them good information.”

“You arrived before first responders?”

“Yes.”

“I see. But you were far more than just friends with Henry Holt, right?”

Nic is silent for a moment and Finn moves to the edge of the bench. “That guy’s a fucking a-hole.”

After a long pause, Nic lowers his eyes to the table and folds his hands. “Yes.”

“Can you describe your past relationship?”

“Fuck this,” Finn says. Then he rises and sticks his head out the door making sure Bryce has the entryway in lockdown mode.

He does. Finn stands, shifting weight from leg to leg as Nic speaks.

“Henry Holt and I were involved in California.”

Sessions decided this needs to be emphasized. “So, you were lovers? Involved romantically?”

Nic tents his fingers together. “Yes.”

“For how long?”

“Two years.”

“And would you describe this as a casual affair?”

Nic takes a deep breath. His “No,” is clipped. “Henry was my first love. My first adult relationship.”

“I see. You see this old flame show up when he’s had his world destroyed and you play it cool?”

Nic shoots him a direct stare. “What you are doing here is not going to hold water. Henry and I had a resolved friendship. The reason I knew that vault was down there is I would stop by after work sometimes while he was doing bookkeeping or schedules and keep him company.”

“So, you maintained your sex life with him, then.” This doesn’t sound like a question.

Craig shifts uncomfortably in his chair. Sessions stands with his arms folded.

“No, I did not say that. I said I would drop by sometimes after work.”

Sessions lets a long beat intrude into the space, but Nic does not take the bait. He says nothing.

Sessions won’t let it go. “You do understand how this looks.”

Nic sighs and tips back in his chair. “Look. I get it. You’re doing your job. But if you hired me to profile me, I’d say pass. I have no history of violence—”

“You were in covert ops and then the CIA. Neither were quiet desk jobs.”

“And since when does that finger me as perp? Serving my country?” He pauses. “All alibis will check out. In the time it will take you to run them, you could use your time more productively.”

“Are you telling me my job?”

“Yes. What you don’t know, I am a hundred percent aware of.”

“And what’s that?”

“I didn’t set those bombs.”