It wasn’t a variant of the original Maxim was familiar with, but he could see how someone who styled himself a writer, a crafter of mysteries, would want to impress.
I am not impressed.Anger rides me, and I am not impressed.
Maxim couldn’t bring himself to move forward, couldn’t, because he feared what he might do if he went to that cell.If he opened the door.He lives for what he can give us, not for what shallow pleasure torturing him would give anyone.He is evidence.He is useful alive.Whatever knowledge he has might save someone.
“I see you are keeping yourself entertained,” Maxim said, his voice as flat as he could manage.“How pleasing our acoustics must be if you feel moved to song.I’ll leave you to it.May thirst find you and keep you company.”
The singing had fallen to humming, but it picked up again, louder now.It was as if Highgate was trying to chase him away with his cruel rhymes, but Maxim walked slowly.
Darkness might soothe him,Maxim thought on his way up the stairs that led to the elevator.He texted Bryan, asking him to brighten the lights in Highgate’s cell and not turn them down for the foreseeable future.
Done
Bryan’s response eased some of Maxim’s rage.
Chapter 24
Therewassomethingwetin Raven’s face.His still asleep mind, in an attempt to make sense of it, reacted with alarm, wondering if he’d left a window open, and if it had started raining during the night.
“Uh.What…what?!”
Raven found himself face to face with Umeboshi, who sat and watched him when Raven turned on his back, finally letting up with the licking and focusing his dark eyes on him.
“Are you kidding me?You slobbered all over my face.”
Ume made his whining noises.Raven groaned.
“Food or walkies, huh?Just let me wash this off first.Seriously.”
Ume didn’t move, so Raven had to roll all the way to the other side of the bed to get up.Ume kept watching him, and while Raven had no idea how to read a dog, the canine looked excited.The faint daylight Raven could see behind the heavy curtains was probably to blame for that.How long did I sleep?
Umeboshi jumped off the bed just as Raven turned on the lights in the bathroom and was about to go inside.The brightness made him flinch and fail to keep Ume out.
“Seriously?Come on.I thought cats followed people to the toilet.”
Ume huffed, sniffed the air, and looked on critically as Raven went to the sink, turned on the water, and washed his face with lots of soap.Smells of green apple.I didn’t notice that before.
It came back to him harshly then—the showering, the way the steaming water hadn’t been enough.He pulled away from that, focusing on the dog slobber on his face.
Even if the light still blinded him, Raven felt clearer, and Umeboshi’s presence made him concentrate on getting ready, getting dressed.He found a sweater and a pair of jeans in his bag, and pulled on both.Do I unpack?I guess I should unpack.He looked around the room, taking more of it in than he had yesterday.Something in him had calmed, or been able to rest at least.That’s a pretty big closet,he thought, looking at the large piece of furniture that took up most of the wall opposite his bed.
Uncertain, but with Umeboshi sitting there and looking at him expectantly, Raven picked up the bag, quickly straightened everything inside, and put it in the closet as it was.It looked ridiculous, that old duffel on the spotless white shelf.The shelf might never have been used, that’s how pristine it was, so much like the rest of the room.Raven closed the closet, and with Ume in the leading, he pushed his door open all the way.
The penthouse too was bright, but now that he’d slept, Raven could adjust to it easier.I’d still prefer it to be overcast, but what can you do about the sun?It shines, whether you want it to or not.
Umeboshi yipped and ran toward the couch just a heartbeat before Raven realized Maxim was sitting there, his back turned.
“It’s you again.Well?”The dog jumped up onto the couch, and it looked as if Maxim was giving him scratches.
“Morning,” Raven said.
Maxim turned and smiled at Raven.“Top of the day to you.I told this one to wake you.”
Raven scratched the back of his head.“Yeah, he did.With his tongue.”
Maxim’s eyes widened, and his attention went back to Ume.“Did you?Aren’t you a smart dog?Very good dog.You shall have a treat.”
Raven frowned.“He slobbered all over me.”
