“Weren’t you working?”
“Yes. I get a lot of downtime, though.”
Downtime, huh? Every time he talks about his job, I feel more uneasy. There must be a reason he’s being so evasive about it. “Is it something illegal?”
He tilts his head in a silent question.
“Your job, I mean. You’re not a… drug lord or a… human trafficker. Right?”
He seems to fight a chuckle before he says, “No, I’m not a drug lord. Or a human trafficker.”
I feel relieved, though it doesn’t last as I realize drugs and trafficking aren’t the only occupations I wouldn’t get behind. Before I can press any further, a knock at the kitchen door has us turning around.
“Hey,” Ethan says, popping his head in. “I can just leave, you know?”
My back immediately stiffens. “What—no—why?”
He shrugs. “If the problem is that I’m here.”
“Of course that’s not the problem. I mean, there’snoproblem.”Except that Rafael is evasive. “I just had a couple of things to discuss with Rafael.”
Focusing on him, Ethan points back at the living room. “Are you coming back? I can’t remember how to switch weapons.”
“L-one. I’ll be right there.” When Ethan heads back, Rafael squeezes my arm, hand lingering a beat too long. “I’ll get out of your hair before dinner so the two of you can talk.”
“Maybe you should stay.” I throw a glance at the sliver of light coming through the door. “He seems to like you much more than he likes me.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?” I grimace. “Please stay, okay? It’ll help make things less tense. Pizza’s on me.”
“Well, in that case.” He walks out of the kitchen, and I hear the two of them talking about games as I take out my phone.
I have a text from Celeste, and once I read the ominous “Did you do this?” I rush to open the link that follows. It’sMurders & Manuscripts’ subreddit, and it looks like someone just opened a new thread.
Did you guys notice?
I live in Wethersfield, next to Willowbrook, where the show is recorded. I swear I’m not crazy, but… Read these news pieces and tell me they’re not exactly the plot of the last two books Scarlett discussed. And they happened on the same nights the episodes aired???? What!! Someone please tell me I’m not seeing things.
I gasp, my heart immediately shooting into a frenzy. There are hundreds of comments already, people talking about how it can’t be a coincidence.
It’s out there.
And I know Celeste is pissed, but I for one can’t help the immediate sense of relief washing over me.
I’m not crazy. I was right.
Celeste
The police won’t be happy about this!!
“Well, maybe they should have listened the first time,” I mutter. I write back, swearing that I didn’t do it, then open the food-delivery app and order two family-size pizzas. Pepperoni was Ethan’s favorite back in the day. I hope it still is.
I listen to Rafael and Ethan laughing about whatever Ethan did last in the game. I can’t keep hiding out in here, but why do I have this sinking feeling that whatever I do or say will end up with Ethan being more alienated than ever?
I bite my lip and drink a sip of coffee.
I have to join them.Come on, Scarlett.
