Every cold thing Nicolas did in those forty-eight hours, I let him do, and I noted it, because a man that certain of his own righteousness will always overplay his hand, and I intended to have the whole of it written down.

“How long?” Nicolas asked.

“With the rush fee, forty-eight hours,” the technician said, packing his kit.

Chapter 11 — The Decree

The moment the door closed, Nicolas looked at me for the first time in a day.

“I’ve moved my things into the guest room,” he said.