I woke up already in a shit mood. The Assembly bullshit had stuck to me like shit on a boot, and I couldn't scrape it off. After breakfast I called Reid into my office. He showed up and dropped into the chair across from me.
"Alright," I said, leaning forward. "Let's talk about what the hell happened yesterday. You asked about what I told them ten years ago."
Reid watched me. "Yeah. I did."
I rubbed my jaw. "I told the Assembly you were gone. That's it. Nothing more. I didn't say dead. I didn't give them shit for details. Most of those assholes just assumed it meant you were dead and I let the fucking assumption stand. Explaining the truth would've meant dragging the seal, the curse, and everything we sacrificed into that political snake pit. I wasn't about to hand them a loaded gun."
Reid stayed quiet for a long moment. "Makes sense. Politically."
"It was the only play I had," I said. "Didn't mean I liked it."
