Peter's eyes remained fixed on the failed transmission fragment long after the screen dimmed back into darkness, the silence inside the office stretching so tightly that Caro could hear the uneven rhythm of her own breathing. Neither of them moved at first. The words still hung between them like a loaded weapon neither wanted to touch.
SUBJECT: CAROLINE VALE – INTERNAL SOURCE CONFIRMATION.
Caro's chest tightened painfully as Peter's gaze slowly shifted away from the monitor toward her again. There was no accusation in his expression yet. Somehow that felt worse. Because Peter Blackridge did not look uncertain often, and right now uncertainty was written all over the restraint hardening behind his eyes.
"You keep appearing at the center of every breach," he said quietly.
The exhaustion in his voice cut deeper than anger ever could.
Caro swallowed hard. "Because someone wants it to look that way."
