62 A New Plan

Lila

Lila swore colorfully and turned to him. "What one person says, the rest are thinking. I'm sorry, Dane, but we'll need you to take this one—"

"No."

She gave him a look. "There isn't any need for anything personal. It's all about appearances. You make a statement that emphatically denies any connection to this and your willingness to assist law enforcement in any way that will be useful, and leave it at that. No questions, no stories."

"I said, no. We will not add fuel to this fire. And I am not going in front of cameras again. I told you that. I meant it."

They glared at each other for a second, and something in Lila twisted. This new intimacy, how it created an expectation in her that he'd soften for her at work, she was going to have to get past it. He wasn't budging. Then he silently mouthed the word, Rupert, and she pursed her lips.