“You know, Nick. Being a spy—” She paused. That word sounded juvenile and unscrupulous in a way that unnerved me. “Working in intelligence, I mean, and being an entertainer—oh, they’re not so different from each other. You have to get to know a person. Assets, offshore accounts. That’s the easy stuff. But . . . what wine a person likes, where they vacation, their most tender memories, or private proclivities,” she murmured. “Their weaknesses. People think it’s all about sweet talk, but really, that won’t get you far. It’s not about how well you can speak, but how well you can listen. That’s why you came to mind.”

-LOCAL HEAVENS by K.M. Fajardo

*DON'T FORGET: Inky x Bindery members get early exclusive access to our LOCAL HEAVENS cover reveal March 9th on our Discord.