For one second, nobody moved.
That was the thing about truth.
Even liars felt it land.
Kessler leaned in until she could smell stale coffee and the bitter chew-mint he had tucked in his cheek.
“You’re gonna want to watch your mouth.”
Claire glanced once toward the nightstand lamp.
Same cheap lamp. Beige shade. Harmless.
Inside its hollow base sat a digital recorder no one in the room had noticed.
Still running.
Every word. Every footstep. Every lie.
Then her eyes moved to the charging cable on the far side of the nightstand.
Her encrypted phone sat there untouched.
Fifteen years in public corruption work had taught her two things.
Never trust a dirty cop to stop at one crime.
And never leave your life to a single piece of evidence.
Kessler snapped one cuff around her wrist.
“You’re under arrest for possession of a controlled substance.”
Claire pulled her other hand free of the blanket and held it out herself.
