“She’s taken notes no one asked for, offered to organize things that were already handled, keeps hovering like she’s waiting for something to happen, and she wants to be whereverI am. She thought I should have backup coming in here.” Ziggy adjusted the wire again, even though it didn’t need it.
And he let her.
“Sounds like she’s trying to get information,” Noah said.
“Maybe, but what’s really grating on my nerves is that she can’t wait to watch.”
“A little too excited?”
Ziggy placed her hands on his shoulders. “That would be an understatement.”
That told him they were definitely on the right track. “What about Jag? Brian? Are they here?”
“I got a text ten minutes ago. The warden set them up in a separate room. They’ll be able to watch everything. But more importantly, Brian got the information on the shell corporation that wired the money into Monica’s account.”
“And?”
“It all came from Claire. Or, shall we say, Daddy’s trust fund,” Ziggy said. “Jag didn't say anything about the letters or phone calls, but he did say they was damning enough. Maybe you don't have to do this.”
“No. I need to put an end to looking over my shoulder, and I need to do it on my terms. Getting him to own everything else, along with drawing out Claire, that’s the icing.”
“Alright. I’m right here with you.”
“Noah,” the tech called. “We need to do that sound check.”
“Sure.” He nodded.
The tech stepped forward, flipped the switch, walked away, and hit another switch on a box. “Okay, start talking.”
“Singing in the rain. I’m just singing in the rain,” Noah said.
“That never gets old.” The tech gave him a thumbs-up.
Noah scanned the room. Two cameras. One locked for the wide shot, one positioned to catch every shift in expression. A skeleton crew stood just outside the frame, quiet, efficient,already moving like this was just another segment instead of something that could dismantle everything he’d built if it went wrong.
Because that was the truth of it.
Ziggy cupped his face, forcing him to focus on her instead of everything else pressing in. “Don’t hold back,” she said quietly.
“I won’t.” He leaned in and kissed her like he might not ever see her again. He sighed. That probably wasn’t the smartest thing he’d ever done. Someone whistled in the background.
Someone else cleared their throat, as the sound of metal screeching across the floor filled the room.
“Well,” a familiar voice said, “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Noah pulled back, but he didn’t turn immediately. He wanted to stare into Ziggy’s eyes for another few seconds before he had to become someone else one more time.
“Sorry about that.” Noah turned, holding her hand.
Matias Salazar stood between two guards, dressed in standard prison attire, exactly as Noah had insisted, because there was no way he could chance his father looking normal in everyday street clothes. Noah couldn’t allow his viewers to see past the prison. See past the jumpsuit into the man who had charmed an entire community for decades.
Even so, the ease with which Matias carried himself hadn’t changed.
That was the part Noah hadn’t been able to prepare for.
“Ziggy,” Noah said, “this is Matias Salazar.” And then, because he wanted to see the reaction. “Matias, this is Ziggy, my girlfriend.”
Ziggy stepped forward, her posture shifting into something controlled and professional, the tension Noah had felt from her moments ago sealed away, out of sight for anyone else.