Cole scrambled over, his heart thudding again. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jake. That bastard pushed me—” Tyler stopped and blinked. He looked around, as if getting his bearings. “Okay…”
“What?”
Tyler shook his head sharply, the anger gone from his voice. “I was dreaming that I was on the job last night. We were in a building, ten floors up. Jake pushed me over the edge.”
“Well, obviously he didn’t.” Cole’s laugh was strained, but Tyler didn’t seem to notice.
“Yeah, obviously not.” Tyler rubbed his arm again.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked, pointing at the arm.
“Yeah. Must have done something to it.” Tyler clenched and unclenched his fist. “Seems fine, though. Sorry I woke you.”
“No problem.”
Cole lay down again. Jake was the leader of the gang Tyler worked with. Had he actuallypushedTyler? Had Tyler found something that Jake wanted? Or could it have been on McClintock’s orders? Was that why he’d been so generous with the payout?
Cole hadn’t decided yet what to tell Tyler about his death and resurrection. He’d need to say something. Tyler couldn’t just walk back to work tomorrow. If McClintock had ordered Tyler’s death, hereallycouldn’t walk back to work.
He’d have to tell Tyler the truth, as crazy as it was.
“How much money did you say we had again?” Tyler asked in the darkness.
Cole stiffened. “Uh, five hundred and thirty-two dollars. Like I said this afternoon.”
“Right.” A pause. “Can I see it?”
“Now?”
“Sure. I just want to…” Tyler trailed off. “No. I don’t… Why…?” A soft laugh. “Damn, I really am tired. I have no idea what I’m saying.”
“Oh, I know what you’re saying. You want to see where I’m hiding the money so you can slip some out and buy me more books. Uh-uh. That money is hidden for a reason. I donotwant more books.”
Tyler laughed again. It was true—his brother had a bad habit of raiding the kitty to buy things that he decided Cole absolutely must have, which was why it was hidden.
“Go back to sleep,” Cole said. “Everything’s fine.”
“Where’sthe money?”
Cole jolted awake to see Tyler’s face over his. His brother’s eyes were wild and bloodshot, his face twisted, nearly unrecognizable.
“Wh-what?” Cole managed.
Tyler grabbed him by the shirtfront and yanked him up. “I want my money, you goddamn little punk. It’s mine. I earned it.”
I’m having a nightmare. I must be. This isn’t Tyler.
“Can you hear me, brat? I said I want my money.”
Something’s wrong. Look at him. Something’s really, really wrong.
“You’re having another bad dream,” Cole babbled. “Like earlier. With Jake. You’re overtired. You’re just?—”
Tyler wrenched him up and threw him across the tiny room. Cole hit the wall and slumped to the floor, staring as Tyler advanced on him.
This is not my brother. Something went wrong. The monkey’s paw. It tricked me. It did something to…
