“He’s the captain, dumbass. He’s a center and he’s fucking badass. They’re saying we have a good shot at the cup this year. First time in twelve years.”
“I didn’t know you were into this sport.”
“I grew up in Canada. It’s like a religion there.”
“I don’t think I knew that.”
“I’ve been here in the States since I was a teen.” He shrugs. “I don’t talk about my old life much.”
Or at all. I don’t know shit about Carnage other than he has an insatiable taste for violence. He got his nickname his first week on the job and gets assigned the worst of our cases because hedelights in taking out his targets. They don’t get a simple bullet in the brain from Carnage. They get exactly what his name implies.
“You grew up outside the US too, right?”
“Yeah. Norway, then Ireland for a while, but I was still pretty young when we made it here.”
“Your parents alive?”
The question causes my stomach to twist. “My mum is alive. My dad died when I was still a teen. He had an accident at work.”
“Sorry, man. Do you talk to your mum?”
“Can’t. Well, I can, but she has no idea who I am. No idea who anyone is.”
“Damn.”
“They were older when I was born, and she’s not been mentally well for a long time. She’s in her own world and she’s happy there. My dad is with her. She talks about him in the present tense all the time.”
“Dude. That’s gotta be hard. Where does she live?”
“Arizona with my sister. She’s in a facility, but my sister lives close by.”
“And you talk to her?”
“What’s with the twenty fucking questions?”
Carnage holds his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. I was curious.”
“I didn’t mean to snap. No, I don’t talk to my sister or anyone in my family. My biological family. You guys are my family now.”
Carnage nods. “I get it. I don’t have any connections to my blood family either. That’s probably how we ended up at Crestvale House, right?”
“Better this than most of our options.”
“Word.”
My eyes catch movement and I turn my attention to the seats where the target is now sitting. He’s wearing a hoodie and aMagnets ball cap, but that’s him. I’ve studied his picture so many times I have no doubt. He looks around nervously before his gaze shifts to the ice.
The Magnets score early, and when Bouche slams a player from the other team against the boards, the target jumps out of his seat, clapping and whistling. He does the same thing a few minutes later when the goalie blocks a shot.
Patrick Gemelli. Pleasure to meet you finally. Too bad I have to end your life.
He looks young, and he’s definitely attractive. His dark hair is cut short, almost in a crew cut, and I’m too far away to see the details from here, but his smile looks bright as he celebrates his home team.
I still can’t figure out who he’s related to on the team. He doesn’t share a surname with any of them and there’s nothing online tying him to anyone. The client who told us that must know uncommon knowledge about the target.
During intermission, the target gets out of his seat and heads towards the concession stands. I nudge Carnage.
“My target is on the move.”
