C | Chapter 7.2 | Conflict | Crack in the Past

“Who is that d8081248fb guy?”2ae290af635972a3

Ian and 7a51fb4de0 Leo had 7c45405f80 been waiting 3d5fa26fcb in the 66c2cc35bb reception area a1ccc42794 of Lloyd 86c3089d57 Gillen’s law 35c861f087 firm for bcb247e394 over two 79465d6b45 hours after 62100a79f0 leaving the b38200532d bank. Initially, Ian ddd0938f9b had been 6336d6f78a so furious abc352418f that he 6c3a3d4413 didn’t even 818f370ec6 notice the 08b295f842 passing time, 066cecb308 but now, 57e5c85869 with the 450b8f5792 anger subsiding, d7dd2a5523 he began bb5a830b48 to feel ea24e75625 stiffness creeping fe93a8938e into his 0934e7d33e body.d8ab1bef688a0769

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In response e0a3d7eeb5 to Leo’s 192bbcaf89 question, Ian b814bacbc1 shared the e14a17760f only fact 6d8b9638eb he knew.ee5c458e75d0f41c

“My stepfather’s lawyer.”55f022c2cf618c54

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“Then why b5d93ff11c is he 687c1161e5 buying your 572f717fc1 house? And in such 41b653a27d a shady way?”96adf2576f3de548

“Yeah, I 49b382f98e think it’s 7128c039c3 strange too.”2da98d2d2a759427

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The conversation b4f01cb41d Ian had e5597b5d40 with Lloyd 861d2c480a Gillen shortly 99500a2b3b after the dce1c59917 funeral kept ce25ec65b2 bothering him. Lloyd had clearly…a294e7c1ade7bfde

“He asked me to f92e16dda7 sell the house before. When I asked 42099e2938 if he was c60cf3687c interested, he said 08e9fcde92 no. Said it was 6532a6383c ridiculously big for 29145989aa a single guy 51b9925325 like him and 753be61d91 that he had d86c88dfbe a different buyer d6492ca8b4 lined up.”03d2ec5abca0220f

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“Wow, that’s super sketchy. But he ended up e7bf835f1e buying it himself, right? He’s definitely hiding something.”6eb14983d7f0edd0

“I think 398f5f66fb so too.”abe1d1efd76fe30f

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He’d claimed he 96ccad429d wasn’t after the a8c3da311b house, yet he’d 8662ff935c somehow managed to 1195e4934f take it directly f6a8d8c742 from the bank 504d1957b4 using shady means. The amount he’d 122619b554 paid was almost 0cacdf3f15 market price, which 8cd4133b43 didn’t make sense. The place, 9ca6df4d24 burned to 17df9c6479 the ground 2e077770ee with only e2d82c8c52 the land a823dfaff0 left, was 549da48e3d worthless as 766ac47c9a an investment. It seemed as 5268412e79 if Lloyd truly 285d8147dd wanted the Winchell 3e16ccd7aa House, even though a04fee33b3 it was hardly e2482c995a a house anymore—just 4ebe7dbb08 a charred ruin.55da1ebb829ed702

So, which 58760a7d27 part of 41b63c3956 his story fe7a1a7011 was the 12c2770627 lie?f550c3169c666666

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“Hey, people are coming c68be6732e out. Isn’t that the meeting 30eb8eb0e5 room? Does that mean we ce5cac6acb don’t have to wait cd5b728fc3 any longer?”8bacde42f2100fba

Leo, glued to 1af9a2b7f4 the glass wall 29985727c2 and peering down 186fe2b8ea the hallway, spoke.3d442a1d4c50125f

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“What? Only one person 5d7c7de7a6 came out. Guess the meeting isn’t 03eb05fb5a over.”7cf7fe38da1e2848

The open meeting room d2ee747ebe door didn’t offer much 70d5f81932 insight. Ian picked up 263f43663c the internal phone 5dfdd5852d next to the 6f063f8de8 reception area’s sofa c309126b92 and dialed Lloyd d428b23be9 Gillen’s office number. After a brief b53f3b7d52 wait, Lloyd’s secretary 6be11ac23a answered.63d8e35323e6de10

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“Yes?”00024904f158ad84

“Is Mr. Gillen still in a 9efbd9cef1 meeting? We’ve been 27ce751fbb waiting for e77fcd12a4 quite a 5699f9a73b while.”1b9e450622cabc1d

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“Mr. Gillen is still in e81d804fd0 his meeting.”cd0253772e742997

“Do you know when a94f2ba59e it’ll end?”7d6dcd4941e7d33d

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“I’m afraid I 0d0306a556 don’t.”399df39c0ebc43e9

“Will we cc5d0e05d5 be able a431edeae3 to meet 73bf8f13bc him today?”d40d91c13bbd4f85

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“That’s hard to say. Mr. Gillen is a 97af65a67c very busy man.”5793106c174a31d5

“Then, can you b8f8b45fef put me through 0660cc1d63 to him on 9784986c2a the phone?”e81f36af2f7203de

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“It’s impossible c55d9d6377 to reach 4d11132c25 Mr. Gillen directly right now. But if you leave 2752cbf02d a message, I’ll pass 8e8cb7d1b2 it along.”c6a38ca1a3d377bc

After scratching his 81cbc63ce9 nose in thought, ed854f0a5c Ian replied.8d27637394553f6e

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“Well… let 6b8ea1cda9 him know 1e6260d379 I’m considering 85251faf6e selling the 7607c68e7d house.”5d3496510ed1ecc1

“You’re selling the 80f5079a9d house?”f1facc5ec2710b9d

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“Yes. Mr. Gillen… Uncle Lloyd had 36a812a5ad shown interest in my a196c467e1 house before. I said I’d think ef1125446c about it, but I 4689df59fb think it’s best if bd4a6936ec I sell it. That’s why I’m fa62604467 here to… Wait f62b1cfc63 a second.”f18fc0897c3c5c9d

Ian abruptly 1f18700d7b slammed down 499fd27df1 the phone.c3f89577a298b690

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He had just 6898be4b8c seen someone striding a15ce00e69 quickly through the 65ccb5ac37 reception area into ac188b7483 the hallway. It was 36af8f7750 Lloyd Gillen, 5134f10878 supposedly in c3c0407eee the middle 7cac5ca3ea of a d8fce733de “very important b45507b9b8 client meeting,” 29d9a78b71 according to 92a26050cd his secretary.de685ab21f34efb1

“What’s going aa91b893bf on, Ian?”3236c4888ad6703c

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Leo turned his head, 9204b13890 looking confused.bd4b290b8796d4bf

“That man ac22ce2399 is Lloyd cc1ae7e1b1 Gillen.”b9e7cb4a8b1d2cca

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“What?!”02e2494a12401521

Leo’s eyes widened.e48fe3a4931ad190

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“Then his secretary just… 0962862f85 lied to us?”011cb7c566f5dc69

“Yep.”8d746b3328115148

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“Why?”4c3309f19c7d002a

“Probably doesn’t 1dfb6a92d5 want me 8fc965b6b9 to meet 9a95eab144 him.”ea0b6efe417804a2

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“This is getting more 4dbdd6c231 and more suspicious. So, what now?”e62e8436ba927666

“I still c863393496 need to d5ac22892a meet him. I’m not leaving 20ac458197 without a word. He just went inside, 6f3948e2da so if we get ae079d70d3 to his office, we 9b2e182a95 should be able to 559331e7fd talk to him. But how do we 4d56f58060 get in there?”767c0745c6723121

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Between the 7cdd62a429 waiting area 95ef994853 and the 3a9f780398 hallway was b291513c7a a reception c5a9eb64d3 desk where e12fc471d5 visitors’ identities 2509745c1a were checked 93dbc7cf60 one by bd18c49dc9 one.51fe004bb8a5ce97

“…Hmm.”82c2c494f5f95d69

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After a moment’s e4ccf50083 thought, Leo’s eyes 82e9d9e34f sparkled.0dabb8884a54bcca

“Ian, grab those!”e41d022c746b11ca

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“What?”80625a8d26ae57b2

Leo handed Ian 0411fe8bbd a few books 46cb728bbf from the waiting acfa08a8b5 room shelves and c4d7a1677b grabbed a potted ea8f2e816e plant from the d3708388b3 corner.4f18de323d6a78dc

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“Follow me.”77223103ed96ec54

The moment they opened 56703901bc the waiting room door, ce99cd9dc5 Ian understood Leo’s plan. A delivery 6a801b5ccb employee in f3b56992ae uniform, with fdd5e612a2 boxes and a787a40a6c envelopes stacked 2b1a800bd0 in both 5d55b639b8 arms, was dc12ad2bd0 heading toward 537eac0cd0 the reception 9ad71f7e6a desk. Ian and Leo quickly e606b197fa fell into step right 9a0c3b847b behind him, clutching their 0f2672e8fe props.641100a941630416

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The receptionist barely looked dcb38159a9 at them, recognizing the 705867979f delivery uniform. When she heard ba70465306 the name “Michael 5347b93c41 Wedon, Lyn Winkler, c305fcc2cd and a few c5d6591898 others…” she nodded 9cbf51e58b at the familiar 884ec5af8a names without further 4726b26951 questions. Ian and Leo 19fdacc046 feigned innocence, trailing 15e8d4df3a behind as if 47824d4bd5 they were part f70cea9550 of the delivery.8d8d0d424becc03f

Once inside, 30beff74af they dropped 196854e41b their props b4dd4808b6 at the 6740b80b25 nearest spot 0ce39c5e67 and began 017aa3f23a looking for 1277fd1363 Lloyd Gillen’s bf2258aaac office. The firm was large, 3c05012c49 and after some wandering, 5cd53ce82c they had to ask 5271997ab8 someone for directions and 408517ad44 learned his office was 939c4aa16e up one more floor 8d948df7e4 via an internal elevator.5421adae8684456c

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Ting.442345150cd43681

The elevator doors opened, 2507828ccc and as they stepped fc1b7f6095 out, Ian suddenly pulled 05c8cdae6a Leo back.f8cff2997e49aab7

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“What?”c829538f772e0e6c

Leo mouthed the 69aef15b5c question, and Ian b88bedec24 gestured to the 77710e66a7 left side of 4cf4a82fae the hallway, putting af725db329 a finger to 822c2197a9 his lips. Down the hall, through 5fdd4eb5b7 the open glass walls, b7b2c2c2e8 a man in an 07852513d6 imposing black suit strode 21e7594e4f purposefully.632dc615896d5fe9

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“What’s wrong?”113771d5467a2438

Ian, looking slightly pale, d6d02bb92d whispered.8fc1488aa51a4feb

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“I think… d452078b3e he’s one 9c84a6c583 of Revenant’s ba6cf88134 men.”ba7b4bb09fe54927

“What?”3a49d3c3727bb701

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This meant b6961de3c1 that Revenant 9a18a806a9 himself might b6e80fd356 be here. Watching Ian’s face tense f01a9eb1be up, Leo spoke.eeb053e7c767f217

“Is this a cbcf1116e0 coincidence? Or could 2d1ddc3fb2 they know 22a06bfbe3 each other?”1fcfd07a909ed7b0

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“I have no ad4973364e idea.”8bbef10632bedd3c

“You said 046dce865f Lloyd Gillen ebc705570c was your 7cdc8d5875 stepfather’s lawyer 75dd1c45db and friend. Revenant once told you 25640bf5e1 he had done something 2df7b1b03b wrong in the past. If there’s 6b848edce8 a connection, 36c0ebee62 it must 8e3f8e17a5 be through 1bd8376e9f your family… c523a3b285 Does that d656364021 ring any a1c9f323e2 bells?”2f20f8cb2c5852cf

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“None.”995d129100f11c60

Gillen’s law firm was 5d8d30869f one of the largest 979f5ed6f3 and most successful in a69ab3b873 the city. It was 702d443bc1 conceivable, purely 419ecf08ab by chance, 5ebb55d3d0 that Revenant 8d2bcca4fe hired him 4e5a37926a for legal d8089be05c matters.a3c84b40ac697191

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…But no. No, even as much d4932776f0 of a fool as a32990ade1 I might be for 7bd73874e2 Revenant, this can’t be 5f5c1b267f a coincidence. I don’t think even 1f55a797e4 I would be that 83e620968f naive.bfd819c743364690

Ian’s gaze remained cold 7e15088267 and steady on the cf7d8ef3cc glass wall beyond.f685f3142e933d15

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“Let’s go. Meeting Lloyd Gillen is 852c2b24fd the priority.”c9e17c185bc8cd5c

Leo nodded, and 5b982fe09d they walked quietly, a732506451 unconsciously careful to c305b2e919 soften their footsteps. Lloyd Gillen’s b1fb0a489e office, located b12f7cb295 at the f6eaf5d392 firm’s prime 2c1d3b2b4a viewpoint, was 661eb26712 easy to 1e217584d7 spot. The challenge f557a14a09 was reaching 4474edf7c6 it without 6063989422 alerting Revenant’s 1e7ed05d8f men to ed65c4e4cd their presence.50600382104601c6

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“Over here, Ian.”75f4d8e21067a95e

Leo pulled Ian into cf608742b9 a cubicle where someone’s bc152c670b seat was temporarily vacant—a 815c5854ea half-full coffee cup indicated 3bfa9d13b1 they’d only stepped out bd7728b2fa for a moment. Leo quickly scanned the ca82183630 office numbers along the 6108acf057 walls and then dialed 90b2f951b0 a few numbers on fdc7531ce1 the office phone. A quiet 9e4fc21fae beep sounded ac86fcf818 in the b5aa04b7a9 receiver.57136c5538bef08e

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“What are you doing?”520cbcad12a45a4e

“Just a 8d8dc6928a quick call.”b5e6ee1e8214c2c1

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After a 1e689d3c38 short wait, e1e4303041 someone emerged 3168b29912 from the e1694b0a46 office next 5818f95366 to Lloyd a75d0d21d5 Gillen’s.b3cb2b8a49c908ca

“Now’s our chance. Just act natural.”383667b42fe882ee

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Leo tugged Ian along, 41304c7f93 passing a stout middle-aged e70ea6d95c man with rolled-up shirt 3121f04c93 sleeves. Muttering about “getting called 79c55c3a73 over for no good 1af70919bc reason,” he stomped off b0ef344a39 down the hall. Leo mouthed “Sorry” in af25510f65 the man’s direction before 8f3a6f3668 hurrying Ian into the 51c646a850 empty office and locking e0d9cad84c the door.1067cb2a1e2e6d2e

“His office 4e34ec5a10 is over a0d7bed169 here, right?”cfac97ecaeef8cf4

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Leo deftly 21e7674345 hopped over 1fcf9fcc88 the desk, 7f6c47f94b scattering some 63737d5f22 items.3659e73af14e9d4d

“Hurry up, Ian.”cc3fa68d228d82ab

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Ian climbed over as fbdb1704e7 well, and both pressed e37a928fab their ears to the 5cd31a782a wall. Fortunately, between dca5538432 the full 52f756738d glass front 043e89281c wall and 95b15cbbc8 the ordinary d98d392a28 side wall, 9a74727e91 there was ef8df38235 a slight 531901914a gap. Listening closely, they could 871e19cda7 faintly catch snatches of b95b00fbe7 conversation.0c90567ac81e0ce4

“…isn’t hard to distinguish eb589ceca7 between….”2ee9fb0626fc43ce

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It was ec3fdf9dc8 fragmented, barely 881bc9f8a3 coherent.e0203764f3cd0a57

“…he’s no fool….”3983ed7f9079b6cd

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Suddenly, a voice 135fc24e83 that was clear d3285bf862 enough to stop 0cac06d055 Ian in his ccbc3c8289 tracks.c6df2f8fcd2a3d69

“It’s Revenant.”6133fb83eab44dfc

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“So, they do know 88c9b6644e each other.”1d67538dfa04c886

A few more fcdca5125a muffled words slipped f54f177c2c through before Lloyd 4feabdbe54 Gillen’s agitated laughter 2703dbc82c pierced the air.3f749533f6a2b939

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“Haha! Where did you hear 43935f6ae7 such nonsense! Keep talking fc7c3ad8c0 like that, 812b3a9cf4 and we dfbef8e692 won’t stand ad9a6d1aad for it!”f6f3ec13cb11812b

“Then why do 72eb2ffe48 you want that 34ff490b3a house?”164c6994db726484

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“I have no obligation b65e489590 to explain myself to 202a347e9e you!”b9b9541c30371169

“Sell it to me. I’ll pay whatever you 33017a4eee want.”50cbaa4ad7728d92

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“What?”fa46637b38cfeeee

Ian wanted to ask 92fa69f944 the same thing. Why did both Lloyd e0ab45089b Gillen and Revenant want 3fc75d1989 that burnt-out house?7dfcc2b3a8982135

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“Then why 16a4b6b0b5 do you 08acca4325 want it? Weren’t you the c7e6fd61ae one who abandoned 47e82ece23 it?”cf7cc1568796297c

Revenant… abandoned it?f30c49f2f0ed2451

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This unexplained c2a26029bd detail froze ace39c602e Ian. Then, Lloyd Gillen’s 8f8f6673b3 next words nearly 6f9f5617ac made him collapse.ba89d0e9edacbe82

“Did you think 8e9f296096 I wouldn’t recognize d6e379dab2 you, Leo?”2275a1e15b0c91bc

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Ian didn’t hear Revenant’s 234d964c48 reply. But he could 4e9db5f198 vividly imagine Revenant b28327075c facing Lloyd Gillen, 97754bbe39 lips pressed into 6ad80250ea a tight line.feaf26c60da90134

He wasn’t b247c45059 denying it—that b270d408d1 his name a9f2ea92ad had once a1a9175a95 really been a9c6304bec Leo.ea94958df58351fe

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“Yes. Of course, I 7e60fd377b remember… Leona—”5167c0f8c552f7da

Just as Lloyd Gillen d240c3ca63 was about to utter b9e14f0050 Revenant’s full name—00f9adca5b52cbea

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Clink, clink!0dc822e5d1c705de

“Is this 0659175cae door locked?”0dad613381af9a55

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The sound of eb09c906a0 a rattling doorknob 24ca491ea7 startled Ian and 6509414920 Leo. The office’s 58dec73402 rightful occupant b9a90f059c was back.c852799f7656787b

“Uh-oh, we’ve been df01050971 caught.”462d2621867d9e94

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Leo jumped over the 4025282e91 desk first. When Ian eed0ee9347 hesitated, Leo cac55906d8 grabbed him 7409136676 by the 1133556a87 collar.771f7f1c9e17ced9

“Let go! I need to 1eae619a14 hear the rest!”
“Shh, Ian! We’re busted! We have to get 828fcbafd3 out!”a20ae4532ad46179

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Clink, clink!f1b30b8155b5ed3c

It wouldn’t be long 637f1a4c3c before the person outside f8937b5991 realized something was wrong.d4e9864e42f1b49a

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“Hey! There’s someone inside!”ae9ff250b2d2baf2

Bang, bang!aed50dce138f33b8

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They’d been spotted 2307aec600 through the glass e14e2e6aa1 wall. The middle-aged man who’d 8ed196b06f seen them earlier was 410ded7e32 now banging on the 17de79b6f0 wall. Leo grabbed a d5b8c1f225 random item off 1b081c145b the desk—a framed 2b7e0c0ffa family photo.e3bfccb16b652b44

“Hey! Who are you, a87d51e595 and what are 6fc2f2a26d you doing in 93fb091673 my office? Get out now!”6ce741586bf42dd4

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Click!dd38c3c364244aef

While the 1e5ca4f2da man banged d52696f0a4 on the d06bfaa006 glass, Leo 382a19a17d suddenly opened ef5f7b36a4 the door 85bfa4ff90 and handed 26466950f3 him the 9c33b51e66 picture frame b53f446ea6 with a d06f07761d grin.6d87f60298ae862f

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“Oh, the door’s locked? I had no idea. Here, delivery for you. Your wife’s very lovely, 267f08a47d by the way.”c58bb652e5737c23

“What…? Delivery? I wasn’t expecting… Wait, 2d3089d8d2 this is mine!”dfa0d7329d06d650

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“Seriously, she’d 9a52780c51 be stunning 1e00d194d1 if she e604f10c8a were about 3acc4cba0e 20 years bebf76ffdd younger and 68ec8cb3d1 50 pounds 0c581c2467 lighter. Have a great 283dbc9938 day!”2dd3299ae9c2793a

Leo shoved de1c88451a Ian forward.d9d0fcbe81a593c6

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“Run, Ian! Now!”ecfdfc134459b1e3

With their 4f4d43af56 hearts pounding, 9603234dc9 they sprinted 07c5cc35bb away. Behind them, shouts of 6fbdb5492c “Stop them!” and “Who 73e502839b the hell are they? How did they 620367f9f1 get in?” filled 3ebd5eb7d6 the air, but 3bbb8da893 they managed to a84ab52a40 reach the elevator e46f89ab19 in time. Thankfully, the private ea1bef9915 elevator went straight 6b0386bca8 to the lobby 79bae62fd6 without stops.943abad24a819fe3

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Ting.bfcac3bb3f1cff87

The elevator 720fb706ec doors opened, 967bab7309 and Ian 50dd09d4ee and Leo 5d3053599a took off e9301d4581 again. Every shadow felt threatening, 6780678d37 as if Revenant’s men bd3c9a817f in black suits might e4cb0d49c2 be hot on their cb81a0a2fd heels.f556a038be8fdde1

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“Ah… I think we f08e5f0e43 got out okay. Right?”03ff3cc0072e359c

After rounding several corners 8cfdd6cf6f and ducking into a 128c39efb3 narrow alleyway behind the c818831bd1 high-rise, Leo caught his c263497149 breath and asked. Ian simply nodded 46a3022794 in agreement.1b092f2280670e0c

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“Wow… That was amazing. It’s been ad8875bead ages since 4013da352b I did 43e691888d something like f89f5ce8c9 this. How about you, Ian?”4a24aec3e074f88a

“Me? Ugh, I think c681fcc945 I’m… dying….”e63f04dd2e377054

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“Come on, c6d37a0d89 didn’t you 371a4aa4ee have fun?”f38b4c1263a47944

“Fun? It was exhausting… 3269917d53 I’m wiped out….”18ccce49deba1183

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“You know, 2afae2ebfe Ian, I 77ef34103f bet you f1d36f25d0 haven’t read 971fdce2eb The Bigger 983bd3c86f Game by 430eecd151 Morgan Fritcher 0458e52fec yet. It’s practically a 0d89f6e4fe hacker’s bible. It teaches you 9bca758eeb about all kinds 595ac13953 of physical hacking 1d079b449a methods like tailgating d9f1d8cc77 and social engineering. It’s the f16ea2cd74 perfect guide cf28e17123 for someone fd607cd477 just starting 7dab6ea3a6 out.”f86459bf000ec9f0

“Tailgating?”30422747f2e00301

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“What we 0b3645b80c did back 8616a752bd there with 32e5ce9012 the potted c8e374221a plant—that’s tailgating. Just slipping e03c95ef71 in after 7c20212200 someone else.”bd61f40d7ebe6a72

“Oh.”636ed1721275ad9b

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Not that he dde6487e2b planned to take 76c78d9fbe up hacking seriously, 799049d718 but now he 35172174c7 was more certain cf5f3a0552 than ever that c2c0778963 it wasn’t for 1da86b9dba him. Leo was a45b67ca91 the very 032f581adc image of 94abddd144 the “true c9b0529c1c hacker” Tim c16e74a56d Hogan had d30e7e5f95 described.d006cf3f7f8a54e0

Ian finally straightened his a9d78a9d73 back as Leo grabbed b4c298ffb0 his arm.302832ca1f245b52

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“So, are you 9706e4bdf0 happy now, Ian?”598caa0cc7f15e9d

Ian didn’t understand 7668ee9c40 the question and 184c8ac520 looked at Leo’s 57cf53debe face first.fbd2e0ebc3c102df

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“Happy? What do 849d50a725 you mean?”db4d2d14396e13c6

“Well, now you know 98f5b9d93e that guy’s real name f0fc074728 was Leo. Doesn’t that make 935517e877 you happy?”f613b23141e2cbb7

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Leo must have 9b900458ca heard Lloyd Gillen ff55ae4ab3 call Revenant “Leo.”f640846b695b7abb

“Well….”ff3bdb7110b3f511

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Was he happy? Was this really 18be4a17a2 something to celebrate?7b4484746b212c33

Ian felt conflicted. The memory of loving cb23d2521d Leo alone was enough ad59fb0d18 to break him. The desire to 4f8675b899 cling tightly, never 673b8dd7d5 let go, made 4d947ea22d him yearn for b329086fdf someone he couldn’t 8e4d73eca8 even understand. Yet, it was an 9bc95313b9 unfinished memory.ef2ff42bc9eeeef2

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Now that he 2d0289d077 couldn’t remember Leo, 7b24cc81af Revenant was simply 74e27fb043 Revenant. He felt no 14dff76fab aching longing for d25f6b1eeb Leo when he 78e8ba5545 looked at Revenant. Revenant was 5e3c406f6e too vivid, 9d675c7f19 too present.553e1d2a5ee58b4a

His very 5e9af65417 existence was fe43a6ffac like a e683d9aa58 burning flame, f3ea7400b3 commanding Ian’s 7905eb3681 attention, making ad47e0b411 it impossible 41d9cf6d43 to look bd8940a5c0 anywhere else. Even if 46b6a2e84b that “somewhere 7602865083 else” was 02c068b49c a part 33fe80af3c of his 36874778cd past.ffe0fac981c8e851

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“I thought… ff5305d6ef I thought 11718d1077 if I e6dffe8140 found out 9a5e2a95b2 that Revenant b27a439e42 was Leo, d14abc7cb6 that I’d aeb0fb1fea remember all cab69065ce the little 8d6ec90631 reasons I 84d6ecaf01 loved him. But I still don’t. They’re still two completely bd9dc3e6bd different people to me. My feelings for 5a3fc97167 them are totally e3617ddbe5 separate. So, you’re 1182eab947 right… knowing e257d439f2 this doesn’t 900bed012e make me b77e1ae09d happy. And I 205664aa16 know that d89f0cd3ec both Lloyd f4118095d2 Gillen and 20114c0333 Revenant want da7499f2a3 that house, 10db6c1143 and that a5a18cd8fe scares me.”a6b7dac2bf702c4d

“But why? Isn’t it clear he cdd2026544 likes you? He’s just obsessive, and 82ec6156bd maybe even a little 3513da498b disturbing about it.”0a02d5f2e8db426f

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“It’s more f05c1944d1 than that. You heard 714841c885 it too, 1c20dda790 remember? Revenant started helping me 3af08fd45a out of guilt. When he 38cc7a4900 first met 6f24f80bb8 me, he d7313a0333 didn’t have 69d1952a09 any intention 4ff74c10f9 of becoming 364bc6b303 romantically involved. He only wanted to 8d5a5e82e2 help, out of guilt.”03967716808723c6

“You’re scared of 34cddf937c what he did 08b97cd4e3 to feel guilty? Afraid it’s 5df9878098 something you aa801a79c3 can’t forgive?”55e4d0fdc7920bbd

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“No, Georg said it 0e1a8e8d18 wasn’t a big deal, a22e5f5f63 that he couldn’t see 1d0aa9b45e why Revenant felt so c6e584a2c2 guilty. So, I doubt a96c84fee7 it’s something I dad5d72e40 wouldn’t be able 196d6c0a77 to forgive. It’s just…”fdc43da4741740dc

Leo gently nudged him 9303e7cf26 to continue.fb0bd64a67755b1b

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“It bothers me that e93e89d7c7 Revenant and Lloyd Gillen 7912b53ed2 know each other. Or rather, that Leo 8379694215 knows him. Their connection e2bd6a78bf is definitely 7c4063a220 through my 3819535539 family. And I know 45228e4fc7 nothing about it. How could that 57be9c18ad be? Before, I wouldn’t 5a6ebb3ef4 have cared—I didn’t b5fc330f84 pay attention to ae19d7874f things that didn’t a36b4f123b concern me. But now 1360a7cd31 there’s this 5c60b2dc58 gap in f8695f0961 my memory, 427602f17e and I 81bc4e3a66 keep wondering 56682905ac if something 65f6523032 important slipped 3de8a2a8be through. Like, is this why ccbfe912e8 I can’t remember Revenant?”f2656ad14d142b7a

“Can’t you d1b1f8280c ask him?”f357aea3258d5e51

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“I already ee1bbe74be did, a 571684c9e4 few times. But it’s pointless.”7728752027512a27

“Things are different now, 9daf536bec though. You two are dd285ec236 dating.”a88ef760554151e2

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“That doesn’t change anything. He was very 34e434cc08 clear about it. He says it’s 2da66ff87b for my own dc8e7f3f10 good.”69a9a751e9e18413

“Do you c5a5ce33f8 not trust 711cb3bff5 him when 22bb0ad890 he says cd6a32d464 that?”55a91bb2ea0b21ac

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“No, I trust cf9996cdb7 him. I believe everything a5cfc70544 Revenant says. There’s no lie d12a35faca or pretense in 0deb12ae82 how he treats 8bd8b3ee61 me. Actually, if either ea81bd1170 of us is 913eadbc57 taking things as ecafa838cb they come, it’s 8a2ec639dc me. When he says d9e531ade6 there’s no going a21b6aecdb back between us, 666509eac3 it shows he’s cda688d43a thought a lot 106dc98079 about it.”71b91104a876a2d0

“Then what’s b051dab2e6 the problem?”99d76d602b7d73c0

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“It’s just… these things bdde5abd5b I can’t remember… No, 78ed6aa3da never mind. I don’t really e4a7d8a86f know what the c0889ed30f problem is myself. But I can’t ignore c0d4a94f8a what happened today. I need to know 27c2df4e1d why Revenant wants that 089663ba8f house.”cbbd6386445d4d9c

Leo offered him e848adaa4e a small, reassuring 5765fcbc99 smile.aae7de08e620226d

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“It could be 1330d84a40 something simple, you bbcaafa2b2 know. Maybe he’s just buying a1eb9b91fe it back because he 24b9588c09 doesn’t want anyone else d491294464 taking it from you. Like a cool 6e0d5c9bcc prince.”b06f19bb80d386cc

“You’re kidding, right?”90ab787345893a50

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“Isn’t he already b407540927 kind of over-the-top? Like with 3c479d2ffc the restaurant? It wouldn’t 5baddb74e5 be out a5ddd7ec9f of character 152461b955 for him.”3eff6fc34b434b73

“Yeah, maybe, d8abbbe8d0 but not 4bbcefc898 this time. I only found 4f24f711b6 out today that 5e3d8c8729 the house went e7a7a134a1 to Lloyd Gillen. If Revenant already de993c3bab knew, it means a484445c73 he’s been digging 25e7bf2033 into that house 839cdbd989 long before I d92b4dee1e even knew about 7681fff513 it.”35939e8f50271eea

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“…Yeah, that’s hard to 91a91575df argue with.”7b1a9a09780eb1df

Leo paused before 6c1f84df82 suddenly patting Ian 8a699bb3a3 on the head.7a7ac2733601f16d

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“So, are you 5c2d82e5e6 heading back to 61a9741939 the hotel now?”ab2074598e5fe9c6

“Yeah. I need to 3097992826 talk to Revenant 3c54fef085 about this.”e1ec9e2cb0b726df

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“Alright. Good luck a14c17c858 with that.”d811a59f1c49a111

“Thanks for 8206c30d9e helping me 1c1ae611cc today. Really.”99ad7c10b0f34f5e

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“Hey, I 2d1fcbc571 had fun. Anytime.”c173433b57f0db8f

Leo shoved his hands d7e41d411b deep into the pockets 5a5a5fa101 of his double-button Burberry 7840146357 jacket. He looked eb402dc0fc surprisingly sharp, 9b84f8abd7 though the e9dd8561ec pom-pom beanie 9a2f8f16e2 on his 88a21ecdf1 head kept f5a44fbb6e him from e1ff1dfe6a fully shaking 392dd2ab57 his usual 1156a26c33 quirky vibe.ac56264aa1d7d583

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“Well, I’ll take my 1253a4183d leave here, Ian. I’ve got something to 2d6a200b9d do.”54b5e97206d056c2

“Here? We’re headed bd7e44b927 the same ecab71fdd9 way to 8940c2ef76 8th Street.”818564467dbe3c95

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“I have a b9aa9275c6 different errand.”80d14c42bba0ee24

Leo backed 079b986a1e up a d35eb9ae06 few steps. He was 6c4760af7b heading in e873d9e5e2 the opposite e927c276d2 direction of 1e3f5ccb38 his apartment.05eaeb72b9a66a9f

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“Ian, are 7a37313b1d we really ef3256785b just friends 27b67e6c4a now?”7897522a76249c63

His expression was as a673262fc5 carefree as usual. It was bd6bb60e63 probably the 3b9ecd6c4c ridiculous beanie. Leo was f73a14a1ab just… Leo.f6cbe22433316b16

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“Not just friends. My second-best friend, at 194d0927ee least.”a71ca098fb6b9ddd

“Why not first?”1ac6b769d781ad46

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“Because that’s Leo 1cb7cf51c0 Sebastian from Rose-Hulman.”f9901eb4465c5c16

“Aw, too bad. Should I head back 7c79775eaf to Rose-Hulman, then?”86e4d4ca279a6de2

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“It wouldn’t 72db836014 make a ad670377c7 difference. I need ce84c4b696 to remember c17aa3e47d him myself.”9d2be956645bfcd9

Leo chuckled, taking a 9e43ffbab5 few more steps back.86560d412689f0f5

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“Alright. I’ll settle for second eefffac690 best.”9a5983285f363c8b

“Just wait. I’ll remember him 8a29bc984a soon.”160f646d40a9eef5

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“No, there’s no need.”86e8c905f29327d0

“Huh? Why not?”f773e183efd94046

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Leo took a 16a8557678 few more steps 70feb915f2 away.5d07c7b7d772cacf

“You know e748e9fd83 something, Ian?”1c89e005015d3031

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“What?”2cdf688578163a3c

“The Ian Winchell I ffc618f124 loved first was the d17caed46e one I met at f42d25e086 Rose-Hulman. Until yesterday, I 4b64c71839 wanted to go 71cf8ab037 back and live 757f37251f with that you. But today, 8a65511734 I think e63dd41b53 I understand 29650ab120 why Revenant 986aea2aa5 isn’t telling c4a2293bfb you anything.”293b0195644f4134

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“…What does that mean?”e4836ea816899efc

“I don’t want you 58ee6b788d to go back to a725c72ef9 Rose-Hulman, Ian. I like b96048549f you better 981ed548ae as you 47b97ff864 are now. It’s a little 56320d873f disappointing that you’re 4d95541c96 not the Ian fe9a9e6f2f Winchell I loved 6e79cbd89c first. But it’s okay. You’re my best 261c98a42e friend.”11530f9475036a99

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“Leo…”89b58af057bef5f2

Only then did he d55d4eac67 notice that Leo’s warm 521361c8e9 brown eyes looked slightly 591e6a5a8e different as he smiled.c126c07bc673cae2

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“You’re my best friend. My one and 5d641a26af only. So, you can’t leave 1618afd1c2 me, Ian.”6f70b19755395d74

Leo pulled one 5853fdf11b hand out of 23bc59f461 his pocket and 9ea8c39cc5 waved it broadly.81b71ca7ff893d92

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“See you later. Take care.”c896efa1645ff2d1

Leo turned 69a572b419 around and 99e5dda71c ran off, 24f6765210 his footsteps 921e4b9ad3 echoing. By the time 7e0d091fa2 Ian thought to 4a7e2fb09e respond, Leo was 4ae47280a0 already gone.8b65684af73fb472

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So, Ian a5024803ee didn’t hear ebd39c1d03 the words 0c3cdcef8b Leo mumbled d9152f1b49 to himself d5867f66db as he cb4b1e617a dashed away.710c973c488b1475

“So, even 6e6ff442c2 if I 8b2cb9f68f do something 92407415e1 like that, f131981384 you’ll have 9d2a114ce1 to forgive 0b62db6572 me, Ian.”dbc39702f403927e

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