Chapter Five
All Jimmy could seewas red, and his ears were ringing. The blood brought him back to being a child and watching his mother get murdered. He could see the knife, and he suddenly couldn’t breathe. The room was spinning, and Charlie tried to catch him before he hit the floor.
The high-pitched screaming echo of the gunshot was still completely blocking Jimmy’s hearing. He was staring up at Charlie, but he couldn’t understand a word he was saying, fixated instead on the blood splattered across his face.
He knew he was going to pass out, his entire body trembling with a dreadful flood of adrenaline.
Breathe...
Jimmy gasped, hearing an echo of Cold’s voice in his thoughts. He knew Cold wasn’t actually here with him, but he focused on the memory of every time his lover had talked him through these panics.
Breathe for me...
Jimmy inhaled sharply and let Cold’s soothing voice bring him out of the darkness that was trying to swallow him up. He gagged on a mouthful of bile, croaking, “What the... fuck?”
“The clerk just bloody blew himself away!” Charlie’s eyes were wild with panic.
“I didn’t... I don’t know...” Jimmy tried to sit up, jerking when he felt strong hands helping him. “Ugh. Hi, Jerry.”
“I do not think we’re going to make the arraignment,monsieur,” Jerry said softly and squeezed Jimmy’s shoulders.
“I don’t think so, either.”
Charlie was on his phone, undoubtedly calling the police.
Jimmy let himself lean into Jerry’s tight hold to keep himself grounded, and he was grateful that he was still on the floor. The counter blocked the view of the clerk, and he tried to bleach his mind of the vivid memory.
Yelling. Gunshot. Red.
He shuddered, shocked when the shop door burst open and Detective Duplin was standing there. His gun was drawn as he rushed to Jimmy’s side, hissing, “Are you all right? What the fuck happened?”
“I’m okay,” Jimmy said, hating how weak his voice sounded as he pointed weakly at the counter. “He just... he just started screaming and shot himself. He... he just...”
“MonsieurPoe needs a moment,” Jerry said firmly, shutting Duplin down with an icy glare that Cold would have been proud of. “This shop has cameras. You can see what happened for yourself. There is no need to bother him.”
“I have to take a statement,” Duplin said gently. “This is not a good situation, do you understand?”
“Charlie just called the police... how did you... how did you get here so quickly?” Jimmy’s stomach lurched. “Are you following me?”
“Yes,” Duplin replied without hesitation. “Your husband has been arrested for murder. There are going to be eyes on you at all times.”
“Augustus,” Jimmy whispered, clinging to Jerry’s arm to steady himself. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“Jimmy, that clerk was one of the witnesses who was going to testify against Cold. You walk in here the day of Cold’s arraignment, and the guy just happens to shoot himself? Come on.”
“What...?” Jimmy stared, dumbstruck and nauseous. “I didn’t... that’s... that’s not possible! I’ve been coming here for months! I would have known!”
