“What do you mean?”
“Well, if they’re investigating things like they did ten years ago, this new guy will kill the entire fucking town before an arrest is made.”
“Kansas,” she sighed and pulled away. “Don’t be like this. It’s serious.”
I shrugged. “Why? Because some rich kid’s throat was slit? Sounds like a quick death to me. Much better than any of those kids the Minister took.”
She shuddered. “Please don’t talk about that.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Because it’s ugly?”
“Yes!” she yelled. She threw her hands up as the whistle blew on the kettle. “I called you because I’m scared for my life. Last night someone was chasing us and then Soleil was found dead. That could have been me!”
Not likely.
“You asked me to drive halfway across the country because some guy in a mask is killing rich snobs I don’t care about? Rich snobs who hurt us?”
“You can’t keep bringing up stuff we can’t change. I want to move on, you need to too.” She pulled the kettle off the heat.
“How can I move on when you won’t let me go?” We stared at each other for a long moment. I pushed my glasses up my nose.
Her lips trembled, and her head fell. She reached for the necklace around her throat. “I have a confession to make.”
Any confession from her should come with her on her knees. I licked my lips, holding the words back.
“Okay.”
“Have you been following anything going on around here?” She clutched that necklace so tight her hands shook.
“No. Why would I?”
“Constantine…” She paused and looked up at me, waiting for my response.
“What about him?”
“When did you find out?”
I stared for a long moment, and finally, I dropped my head. “When I was at school. He came to see me.”
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“He told me not to.”
“Why?”
I lifted my shoulders. “No idea. He never said. He came to see you, I presume.” I took a deep breath. I’d been dreading this day.I hated to disappoint her.
“He did. Why didn’t you tell me about who your dad was?”
“Because what was the point? What did Constantine say to you?” I stepped to her and put my hands on her shoulders. She looked up at me with large, shiny eyes. “Or is it, what he did to you?”
“It was stupid, I know. But I saw him, and my brain just—”
“You fucked him.” I stepped away and a dry laugh escaped from my mouth. “You asked me to drive hours and hours to you, just so you could tell me you finally gave it up to my childhood best friend?”
“No!” She shook her head rapidly, and tears spilled down her face. “I asked you to come because he’s been arrested. Kansas, they think he’s the murderer.”
Rule 40 - Kansas
