“If someone is careless enough to overdose, it’s their own fault,” Hal says.
Will tries to make sense of their words. They’re clearly talking about drugs, but not in a way he would have expected. He’s been suspecting shady dealings among the mayor’s business associates, but it’s the first time he hears something concrete. He wonders how involved these people are in the drugs that are flooding the county.
Nothing about Ray Walker would surprise him.
“Maybe we should mind what we’re saying around a certain someone,” the mayor says with a warning.
“Will knows to mind his own business,” Hal says. “Am I right?”
“Yes, sir.”
They continue to talk about other things, and at some point, Will’s stomach growls.
“Someone’s hungry.” Hal dips his fingers into the pot on Will’s chest and scoops up a piece of beef soaked with gravy. “Open up.”
The second Will’s lips part, Hal slips the piece of beef deep into his mouth and leaves his fingers inside. Will can’t chew out of fear of biting down on the fingers, so he tries to swallow the tender meat while not choking. He barely manages as gravy and saliva slide down the corner of his lips.
Doctor Levi chuckles. “When one works in the woods, one becomes barbaric.”
They talk about politics while Hal moves his fingers inside Will’s mouth, reaching deep down his throat. Will breathes through his nose, but he’s seconds from throwing up, which is likely what Hal is going for.
“It’s getting late,” Doctor Levi says while Will’s stomach churns. “I think it’s time I took William upstairs. You don’t mind me going first, right, Hal? You tend to leave him like a used rag.”
Hal chuckles. “I won’t deny that. Go ahead.” He leans to whisper in Will’s ear, “I’ll see you soon.“
*
The mayor is waiting by the bedroom door when Will steps out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. Hal has been an asshole as expected, but at least he was tired and finished off quickly. Will ignores the mayor and removes his towel so he can get dressed. His clothes are waiting on the bed.
“You gave them a good time, boy?”
“I’m thirty years old, Ray.”
“Answer the question.”
He turns around as he finishes putting on his shirt. “Yeah, I gave them a good time. They would’ve told you otherwise.”
Ray nods. “Practice makes perfect, I suppose.”
Will ignores that and puts on his shoes. He walks toward the door, but the mayor moves to block his way. They don’t usually talk after Will is done with his “commitment.”
“What is it?” Will asks.
“How’s Julie?”
“Dying.”
The mayor slaps him. “You’re giving me attitude?”
Will takes a breath to calm himself. “Sorry. She’s doing fine, all things considered.”
“I’ll try to come see her this week.”
“Okay.”
The mayor holds Will’s gaze. “Tonight you’ve heard some things you likely shouldn’t have.”
Will is aware of that, but he’s not sure what the mayor wants to hear—an apology?
