Zee sat nervously in the corner booth of an empty diner, sunglasses on despite the cloudy sky. Her knee bounced nonstop, and she kept glancing toward the door.
Lynn arrived exactly seven minutes late — intentional. Power move.
She slid into the booth across from Zee without a word.
> "You came," Zee muttered, voice tight.
> "You called," Lynn replied coolly.
A waitress approached. Lynn raised a hand. "We won't be long."
The silence between them was thick. Lynn's eyes bore into Zee's until the other woman finally caved.
> "He knows I leaked the names," Zee said. "Mokoena. I didn't give him details — just... hints. He's got people watching me now."
Lynn's jaw clenched. "You played both sides. Again."
Zee looked down. "I didn't have a choice."
> "You always have a choice," Lynn snapped. "You just never pick the brave one."
Zee's eyes flashed. "Don't act like you're some hero, Lynn. You walked away when it got too hot, remember? Some of us didn't have that luxury."
Lynn leaned in, voice low and razor-sharp. "I left so I wouldn't become worse than him. But you? You stayed and let yourself rot from the inside."
Zee blinked, wounded — but not surprised.
> "Then why are you here?" she asked.
Lynn slid a small flash drive across the table. "Because you still know things no one else does. I need more than names. I need dates, times, proof of transfers. This drive goes straight to the press if anything happens to me."
Zee stared at it, then up at Lynn.
> "He'll kill me if I help you again."
> "He'll kill you if you don't. You're not useful to him anymore."
Zee exhaled shakily. "You're right."
> "I usually am," Lynn said. "But don't think this means I trust you. You cross me again—"
> "You'll finish what he started," Zee finished, voice flat.
Lynn stood. "Glad we understand each other."
As she turned to leave, Zee called out softly, "Lynn… why do you care now?"
Lynn paused at the door, not turning back.
> "Because I'm done surviving," she said. "Now, I'm taking back everything."
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