“What I care about more is catching the person who’s playing this cruel game.”
“Right. That’s a given. But you know, the surest way for you to protect yourself would be to come clean about your demons.”
That hits like ice on an exposed nerve. I shift from one foot to the other.
“I thought you said you weren’t interested in those. That you’re interested in my life, who I am, who I’ve been?”
“I am. But we all have demons. Every one of us.”
“Exactly. So that’s what makes this thing so frustrating, because it seems so random. And yet, it can’t be, so there must be a reason I’ve been targeted. And that means there’s a way to find this guy. So no, Mr. Fisher—”
“Jeremy, please.”
“Okay, so no, Jeremy. I’m not spilling my life for you or anyone else. I’m going to find who is doing this. You can print that if you want.”
“And you’ve got the guts for that? For facing down this killer with only the help of that deputy you said you called? The one who still hasn’t shown up?”
I squirm again, shift my stance to hide it. I almost mention the agents to prove it’s not only Zane and me, but I catch myself. That would be sloppy. “If you must know, I knew I could handle you by myself.” I hold up the gun and squeeze its grip, attempting to appear more confident than I feel.
“Fair,” he says. “But in case it’s not clear, what I’m saying is that you ought to confess something—hopefully the right thing—and I think it should be through an interview with me. I think that’s what will save you from this killer.”
My breathing goes shallow. I hope to God he doesn’t notice my chest rising and falling.And if youarethe killer, how special, you get my confession face-to-face.
The silence between us feels strange and intimate, like he’s pinpointed something deep and personal about me. But he hasn’t, has he?
I take a sip of beer to hide my unease. As I lower it back down, my phone trills.
“Your deputy?” says Jeremy.
“In fact, yes.” I exhale—maybe a little too loudly.
Deputy Zane is agitated. He tells me there is a man at his checkpoint who insists he’s a friend, harmless, and known to me. “Wallace Scott,” says Zane.
Wallace. Why would he come over so late? Does he have something important to tell me, something that’s going to make this awful day even worse? Either way, I’m grateful he’s here.
Because Jeremy is making me more and more anxious. And I can’t help but wonder if that’s his intention.
Chapter 31
“Send him up,” I tell Zane. “It’s fine.”
“Who?” says Jeremy.
“An old boyfriend.”
Jeremy doesn’t need to know the relationship isn’t all that ancient or that he’sthatroommate’s older brother.
“Are you okay?” asks Wallace when I greet him out front. He’s a bit breathless. “Jesus, it took me five minutes to get that deputy to even call you.”
“Wallace, it’s late. What’s up?”
“I didn’t see the news until tonight. I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier. We rehearsed late for the show this weekend.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. You didn’t need to come.”
I’m going to set much firmer boundaries with Wallace, even if it hurts his feelings. Wallace walks up to the door right as Jeremy comes up behind me.
“Who’s he?” says Wallace.
