44. Biased Judgement

[LAURA]

“Are you always such a chatterbox, agent Jorden?” Agent Dickens quipped, breaking the silence as we sat in the boat he insisted on hiring to take me home. I had made it clear that I didn’t need a chauffeur, but some men are stubborn as hell. Dickens was certainly one of them.

I arched an eyebrow, giving him a brief, skeptical look. “Well, some of us prefer to let our actions do the talking. You know, the strong and silent type.”

He chuckled, his eyes scanning our surroundings as the boat smoothly sailed through the water. “Fair enough. But I have a feeling there’s more to your quiet demeanor than meets the eye.”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “Everyone has layers. No one is as simple as they may seem at first glance. I’ve learned that people are often hiding something, whether it’s their past, their true intentions, or their own demons.”

His gaze returned to me, as he settled in the seat more comfortably. “What about Xavier Perazzo?” he inquired with a slight narrow of his eye