there but me. If she âfessed up now, itâd be worse than it wouldâve been to begin with after she told everyone she didnât do it.â
âUgh,â he replied. The response was more his annoyance with her banal bullshit than with the coworker and the case of the missing soda. âWell, you just wait. Karmaâs a bitch ⦠oh, speaking of ⦠did you talk to your sister about her birthday?â
He held his breath, waiting for Lynzeeâs reaction as he said the words that would make sense to her. Their code to either confirm whether or not sheâd taken the next step heâd asked her to or, in this case, to signal that he was about to give her more information.
She shook her head. âNot yet. I called her, but she hasnât called back yet.â
âAh, I gotcha,â he replied, nodding. Smug satisfaction washed over him following her reply, which let him know she was ready for his directions. He hadnât seen that little thing in her eyes that flashed when she was perturbed or disappointed. âWell, youâll have to sign the card from me, too. I know I have to miss it, but damn, I wish I could be there. Meet your folks, too.â
Her face registered sadness, the frown clear as her eyes let go of his and turned downward.
âLynz. Donât ever worry that this circumstance will last and that we will never meet. Understand, love. Weâll have so long together, meeting everyone youâve known wonât even seem hard by the time weâre going through our bucket lists together, checking things off. Weâll be able to forget the last few years of not being together. Itâll just be one more time in our lives. OK?â he said slowly. Carefully.
She nodded, but he wasnât sure she was grasping what he was saying a hundred percent. Couldnât trust that his words had gotten through to her. She was a ditz, after all.
Isaac repeated his words to her again, this time adding, âDo not get discouraged, Lynz. We
will
be together.â For emphasis. For the show.
Lynzee sat quietly for a full ten seconds before nodding again.
âI know. Deep down, I know. Itâs just ⦠hard,â she said, a tear trailing her nose. She wiped it with the back of her hand. Sniffled.
Isaac fought the smirk. Heâd taught her so well.
âGood girl,â he said, this time really meaning the praise if not the affection. She did the job so beautifully that he almost hated that, at some point, heâd have to break her at best, kill her at worst. Though maybe killing her was more humane. She
had
performed a valuable service for him, being the vital liaison he needed and all. Was a valuable
asset
. Putting her out of the misery sheâd suffer when he left and didnât marry her and have a thousand babies might be a nice reward for the loyalty.
âTime!â a guard in the doorway called.
âGotta go, buttercup. Give your sis a hug from me. Maybe tell her the present was my idea,â he said, blowing her an air kiss.
She smiled. âI havenât even said what I got her.â
He snickered, enjoying the way she kept up, played along. The guards would never suspect their conversations were code, because the code was so well masked. Even if they somehow zeroed in on that the talks they had were contrived, theyâd never be able to decipher them.
âStill,â Isaac said. âI want credit. I donât know what you bought, but I
do
know you have
impeccable
taste. Bye, buttercup.â
He hung up the phone, but he didnât take his eyes off her as he backed out of the cubicle. Better to give her these last few seconds of his attention, let his behaviors stand in her memory in case at any point she doubted him.
Sheep never see a wolf among them if the wolf looks like a sheep, too.
He turned away, shuffled toward the door of the visiting room to go back to his cell, thankful his acting gig was