"Yeah." I hated all of this.
It was like someone picked up my entire life, like a snow globe, shook it and nothing was settling back where it should.
Okay, who was I kidding? Everything was still whirling around me. When it did settle, nothing was going to be right.
"Cass, can you send that video footage to my phone? If I watch it often enough, maybe something will come to me."
"Mine too," Archer said.
"You're not going to make a meme out of it, are you?" Boner asked, half-teasing.
"I was thinking Booktok video," Archer deadpanned. "Mysterious book boyfriend."
"That's all kinds of fucked up." I shook my head. "Besides, he had his face averted. Maybe if he had a mask…"
"You're all screwy in the head," Jules told us.
"Thank you." Boner grinned. "I'm starting to realize insults are your love language." He made kissy faces in Jules' direction.
"Insults are my 'you're an idiot,' language," Jules retorted. "That's why you're hearing so many from me."
"He's so sweet," Boner whisper-shouted. "He loves us, he just can't admit it yet."
Jules rolled his eyes. "Can we get out of here now?"
"We should pack up what food is left," I said reluctantly. "It's going to go bad if we leave it here."
Cass glanced at me, then at the kitchen, then back at me.
"Nothing weird," I assured him.
"I'll help you then." He closed the laptop and followed me toward the kitchen.
"What you mean weird?" Jules called out behind us. "Cassius, what does she mean by weird?"
CHAPTER 16
CASS
"Cute place," I said, following Harlow into her apartment.
This was the first time she'd let me come here, although it was only to help her pack up a few things and leave.
"It's all right." She glanced around, a wistful expression on her face. "I'll get a few things from my bedroom." She disappeared through the doorway.
"Do you need anything from out here?" I called after her. I wandered over to check out a large Perspex box that sat in a corner, underneath a faucet.
"Probably a few things from the kitchen," she called back. "I'll just?—"
Her footsteps sounded on the hardwood floor and she appeared in the doorway. Winced when she saw me looking at the box.
"Do I want to know?" I placed my palms on the top and peered inside.
It seemed to be dry inside, clean and free of blood or brains. Maybe too clean. The padlock on the top was curious.
She sighed. "Would you believe I keep my Christmas turkey in there?"
I turned to her slowly, hair flopping to the side.
