Under_The_Whispering_Door_by_TJ_Klune

“Why did you do it?”
Wallace frowned as he crossed his arms. “Mess with them like that?”
“Yes.”
“Because I could.”
“That’s it?”
Well, no. But that he hadn’t liked the way Desdemona had flirted with him
wasn’t something Wallace would ever admit. It made him sound ridiculous,
even if there’d been a kernel of truth to it. Nothing could be done about it,
and Wallace wasn’t about to say something that made it sound like he had a
crush of some sort. The very idea caused a wave of embarrassment to wash
over him, and he felt his face grow warm. It was stupid, really. Nothing
would come of it. He was dead. Hugo was not.
So he said the first thing he latched onto that didn’t make him sound like
he was about to swoon. “Mei.” And with that one word, he knew it was the
truth, much to his consternation.
“What about her?”
Wallace sighed. “I … She was upset. I didn’t like the way Desdemona
talked down to her. Like Mei was beneath her. No one should be made to feel
that way.” And because he was still Wallace, he added, “I mean, Mei did
want to commit a felony, sure, but she’s all right, I guess.”
“That’s quite a ringing endorsement.”
“You know what I mean.”
He was surprised when Hugo said, “I think I do. You saw something
happening to someone you consider a friend and felt the need to intervene.”
“I wouldn’t call her a friend—”
“Wallace.”
He groaned. “Fine. Whatever. We’re friends.” It wasn’t as hard to say out
loud as he thought it would be. He wondered if he’d always made things so
difficult for himself. “Why did you let it happen?”
Hugo looked taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“This isn’t the first time she’s come here. Desdemona.”
“No,” Hugo said slowly. “It’s not.”
“And you know how Mei doesn’t like her. Especially when she involved
Nancy.”
“Yeah.”