“She killed herself,” he sneered. “Everyone knows that.”
“Lita Reyes would never,” I snapped. Flashbacks blinded my vision as I recalled the same argument I’d had with his dad. I shook them away. Lita was like a mother to me. Her death hurt me too. I’d seen the body, just like Evie had.
There was so much blood.
“She had a daughter.”
“Has that stopped people before? Just accept that your mom wasn’t who you thought she was. Evie, this is ridiculous. You think I want to remember my dad as a scumbag who couldn’t keep it in his pants? No, but it is what it is.”
“Your dadwasa scumbag,” Evie said. “And you’re a liar.” Her fists clenched tightly, and her body shook with rage.
“You’re fucking sad.” He laughed. “And to think, I thought you had potential. If you’re not careful, we’ll find you hanging next.”
“Tell me what you know about what happened to my mom,” she demanded.
He stopped laughing and looked at me. “I ain’t telling you shit until you let me out. Or get me some water,” he ordered. “My mouth is dry as fuck from the tights she stuffed in my mouth.”
“I’m not leaving her.”
“Sebastian, do as he asks,” Evie said quickly. “We’ll get you a glass, and you’ll tell me the truth?”
Glenn rolled his eyes. “Sure, sweet thing. Whatever. And when I’m done, you’re going to let me go, and I’ll call the police. The entireSimon Saysfranchise will be tanked. You fucking losers.”
“You’ll float too.” The famous line from Pennywise the clown escaped my lips before I could catch it.
“What did you just fucking say to me?”
“Sebastian!” Evie shouted. Then she took a deep breath, speaking calmly. “It puts the lotion in the basket.”
Silence of the Lambs.
I stared at her. Why was she slipping into our code? Her eyes narrowed as she repeated the phrase. What did she want me to do?
My jaw tightened. I nodded and turned toward the door. “It does this whenever it’s told,” I replied.
Not happy about it, I turned and went downstairs to the kitchen—and paused. She wasn’t mocking me. Glenn had wanted water, and she’d said…
She’d get him a glass.
I went to the cupboards and threw them open. There was nothing but drain cleaner, oven cleaner, and bleach. Surely there had to be a glass somewhere. I rushed around, searching, but came up empty. What did she want me to do, then? I had no way to poison him without an open container.
My eyes drifted to the table, where unopened bottles of beer and cans of Red Bull sat. I opened a beer and went upstairs, offering it to him.
“Nice try. There’s bottled water in the fridge,” he sneered. Having expected him to reject an open container, I feigned annoyance as I went back down and grabbed a sealed bottle. My eyes once more drifted to the table, where the Red Bulls sat, right next to the bottle of bleach I’d pulled from the cupboard.
Everyone knew blue was my favorite. Evie’s favorite was yellow. I pushed those aside and started to reach for the watermelon flavor when I remembered there was an unopened one in the movie room. I walked to get it, and when I picked it off the table, I took a large swig, grimacing as the taste hit my tongue. These really were the worst flavored ones. Ignoring the sour taste, I took another drink, knowing I was going to need all the caffeine. I returned to the kitchen and jumped when Evie yelled for me.
“Sebastian?”
Glancing toward the stairs, I grabbed the bleach, poured it in, then swirled it around, sniffing to see if anything smelled off. The watermelon covered the chemical scent. I hurried back and paused at the foot of the stairs. Putting the plastic water bottle in my jacket, I reached into my jeans pocket and pulled out my switchblade, flipping it open.
Maybe seeing a sharp object pointed in his direction would scare him enough to talk.
Or distract him entirely.
Swirling the concoction in the can some more, I went back up the stairs and handed her the bottle of water, setting my watermelon-bleach-energy drink cocktail on the table nearby. Evie unscrewed the cap, let Glenn drink, then started her interrogation.
“Why did they do it?”
