“I’d like to know how it happened.”Gordon slid in close to his mate, who put an arm around his shoulders.
Maxim narrowed his eyes.“Repeated compulsion will have been a part of it, but I don’t think it was that alone.”His throat felt tense, as if invisible hands were squeezing it.“But maybe if he was made to suffer trauma, then compelled, over and over, and traumatized again and again… I’ve never seen anything like it either, so I can only speculate.”
Gordon rubbed his eyes, then put a hand on Adler’s leg.“You think this was some kind of experiment.You think—oh.You think that’s how it connects to Pearson.Two failed experiments, is that it?”
Maxim sighed.“I have nothing to prove such a theory, but if it was, one might consider it a failure.”
Adler nodded.“Yeah, right.People are dead.”
The door to the office opened, and Heath came in, slightly breathless.“Sorry, I needed…I needed a drink.Of blood.I went to have some blood.What’d I miss?”He looked at each of them, then rolled his eyes.“Ugh, it’s just some more fuckery, isn’t it?I really don’t like this case.”
You and me both, darling.
Chapter 29
Umewasheavierthanhe looked, especially the way he leaned into Raven to get pets.
“You’re going to have hair all over you.I think this guy is always shedding.”Jason picked up the daily special menu off the table and looked it over.“Where do you wanna go?”
Ume booped Raven’s chin before sliding down his chest and lying on his back in Raven’s lap.
Jason snorted.“Oh my god, you’re shameless.”
“Huh?”
“Not you.The dog.”
Jason let out a breath through his teeth.“He basically ignored me.He probably figures you’re an easy target.”
An easy target.Easy target… Am I?
Ume licked his hand, watching him with his shiny black eyes.
A server came by.Jason asked for a sandwich and water, and Raven found that there was a ringing in his ears that meant he could barely hear what was being said.All he could do was continue to pet the dog, except before long, Ume turned again.This time, instead of just pressing his wet nose to Raven’s chin, he licked him right over the cheek.
“Hah.”
Raven wiped the spot with the back of his hand, but Ume kept on trying to get to him.
“No manners,” Jason said, his voice sounding as if it were coming from underwater.
Am I underwater?I should come up.One thing after another, that’s what Maxim said.Say something.Do something.
Raven put a hand on the dog’s fluffy head.“Ume.Good weird dog.Down.Come on.I’m all dusty.”
Eventually, Ume calmed, circled on Raven’s lap, then plopped down right there, his eyes closing.
Someone had brought Jason lemon water with a straw, and Raven hadn’t even noticed.
“Wish I could just nap like that.Hey, uh…” Jason stirred the ice in the glass with his straw, the clicking of it loud and clear.“Raven, I…I’m not going to ask if you’re okay, okay?But…we’re friends, right?You’d help me if I ever needed help, wouldn’t you?”
Raven froze.A dull fear made his mouth go dry.What if he found Jason?What if…what if they did something that’s going to hurt him because they can’t get to me anymore?What if they do to him what they did to Prof.LeRoux?What if Maxim can’t keep him safe?
“What do you need me to do?What happened?”
Jason raised his hand.“Whoa, did you just turn a shade paler?Relax, okay?Nothing happened.It’s a hypothetical.But you’re making my point.You’re ready to drop whatever you’re doing, right?Well, me too.That’s all I’m saying.That if you need me, here or on the phone, or if you need to text with someone in the middle of the night, I’m your man.The friendzone is ours.”
Raven relaxed.“That’s what we agreed on.”
