"Thomas Shannon, if you have a hearing problem, you should get it treated sooner rather than later. Don't let your condition worsen."
The moment she finished speaking, Thomas Shannon's hand shot out, grasping her chin and shaking it punitively. "Am I going to have to say it, or will you tell me yourself, like a good girl?"
Neither option was particularly favorable to her.
Sophie Sullivan instantly regretted her vague words. How could he possibly have heard that?
No, that wasn't right. Sophie immediately dismissed her previous thought.
He'd known her name for a long time; he was just waiting for her to confess. No matter how vaguely she'd spoken, he would have been able to recognize it.
So, he was simply waiting for her to admit it herself.
As the saying goes: confess and be treated with leniency; resist and face severity.
He gave her two options, letting her consider them carefully.
Sophie was torn. Should she tell him or not?
