“Thanks, Talbot, I’ll be right there.” Gunnar avoided making eye contact with Warden.
“Out.”
“Yes, sir.” Gunnar made his escape. Talbot was hovering in the corridor. “Hey, Talbot, you want to come join us?”
Talbot picked up the stack of pies and handed them over, along with a paper sack of sides and drinks. “That’s nice of you, but not today. I’m due in a training session on the dark web and I don’t want to miss it. There will be donuts.” He scurried off and Gunnar carted the food to the top floor.
“Pizza’s here!” he yelled from the kitchen, after giving the pies a wolf-sniff test. Bryn and Emmett crowded into the kitchen and they all sat down to eat. “I saw Talbot downstairs. He was excited about some training session he was going to. He seems to be settling in real well.”
“That’s great,” Bryn said around a mouthful of pizza. “This is so good.”
The others agreed and the pizzas were soon demolished. Emmett had left a slice of his and was moaning about being too full. Gunnar eyed it.
“Are you gonna eat that?” he asked.
“No, I’m stuffed. Help yourself.”
Emmett watched wide-eyed as Gunnar scoffed down the last piece of pie. “He has a bottomless stomach, doesn’t he?” he asked Bryn.
“Apparently. There’s never any problem with leftovers, that’s for sure.”
“Hey, I used up a lot of energy this morning,” Gunnar said defensively.
“And you did real good,” Bryn replied. “But now, how about you tell us what’s on your mind?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean you’re keeping something from us. It’s obvious—to me, anyway.”
“What’s my tell?” Gunnar asked.
“You’re not bossing either of us around. You’re too quiet.”
Gunnar sighed. “You’re way too perceptive for your own good. But yeah, there is something. It’s not good news, I’m afraid.”
“Is it about the letter?”
“Yes. I saw Warden downstairs, and he’d already read it. But for context, there’s something else I need to tell you both—Dr. Templeton escaped custody yesterday.”
“Everard Templeton? The serial killer?” Emmett asked, his voice rising.
“That’s the one,” Gunnar replied. “He got away from corrections officers during a hospital visit. The feds haven’t found him yet, and I don’t hold out much hope that they will anytime soon.”
“Not good,” Bryn muttered.
“That’s an understatement,” Gunnar said.
Emmett frowned. “I don’t understand. I mean, obviously, it’s bad that he escaped, but what does that have to do with you two?”
“It was before you joined us,” Bryn explained. “I’m the reason Templeton was convicted.”
“Oh dear.” Emmett fiddled nervously with the spotted bow tie he was wearing. “The letter was from him?” he asked Gunnar.
“Yeah, I’m afraid so.” Gunnar pulled out his phone. “Warden took a picture and sent it to me. Take a look.”
Bryn took the phone and scanned the image before passing it to Emmett. “He’s quite the charmer, isn’t he? I don’t think I’ll be accepting any invitations to afternoon tea with him.”
“Probably for the best,” Gunnar said dryly.
