His entire body relaxed a fraction when her whispery giggle came down the line. He almost smiled, but his jaw ached from weeks of clenching it in anger and frustration.

“Good form, Halpert,” she replied. “I’m impressed. Let him get comfortable and then pull the rug right out from under him.”

His voice caught in his throat. Was that her subtle way of acknowledging what she was doing to him? Or was it just an uncomfortable coincidence? He fought for an answer that would suit either possibility, but she interrupted his train wreck of thought.

“So what’ve you got planned?”