[There's a choked noise from Myr's end of the watches.

Then the call drops because he has to stuff the side of a hand in his mouth to muffle the awful, humorless laughter that threatens to spill out of him.

L had taken what he'd said to heart.

For all the good it had done any of them.

He wonders if he should say as much. It seems as cruel as the laughter would have been.

But then so was what Niles had done--cruel and pointless both.]

I'm gratified to hear that, [he says when he picks up the call again.] Since I'd forbidden him using that against you even to save his own life.

[Or to lose it.]

What do you want, Niles?