“Ex-investigator.”
“Sure. Sure. Still leaves what to do with you left in the air. I have a moral code, you know, and you don’t fit the usual bill.” I sigh. “Unless you’re a pedo and/or rapist.” I might ask way too hopefully.
He shakes his head so hard his hair flies.
“And I’m just supposed to trust you? Hmmm?” Fuck. I got all excited to get here, but I can’t decide what the fuck to do. Icouldkill him, but it’d fuck up all my morals. The guy’s a creep, and hehasdestroyed Dallas’s and Hayden’s peace. I could kill him on that alone. Then call the clean-up crew. They’ll probably be thrilled for a random job and they’ll charge extra because of the stair situation. But… it’s wrong. Right?
The guy doesn’t know that while I seem like I’m contemplating life, I still have perfect situational awareness. His lunge ends up with him flailing back after I swing at him. I shove the end of the bat at his chest and he falls to his butt. His eyes go wide and I rear back.
“Sorry, I protect what’s mine, and you just fucked up.”
He flips to his front and tries to crawl away. I almost wish I had my gun on me and not in my bag. I like toying with people first before shooting them.
“You know, this could be fun. I’ll give you a five second head start.”
“Wait!” He puts up his hands. “I’ll never come back. Just let me live.”
“But how can I be certain?” I whine. “No, I have to see this through. One Mississippi.”
The guy pushes to his feet and tries to run, but his time runs out. I grab him by the hood, which isn’t the best hand hold. He twists right out of it and he’s almost to the bedroom door.
“I haven’t killed anyone in a minute, and Friday isso far away.” I pout and hit his left kneecap.
He doesn’t even yell as he goes down. Just one of those surprised oaf noises. He grabs for the door frame.
“Please.”
“Got any kids?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Too bad. That would have saved you. Stay right there.” I step over him and he grabs for my ankle. I stomp on his hand. “I said stay right fucking there.” I grind his hand into the carpet and he grits his teeth.
It’s lucky for me that he’s not vocal, but I miss the screams. I take my time grabbing my gun. Thank fuck for silencers, am I right?
Poor dumbass is so terrified he never even thought to call the police himself. His phone still sits on the bed.
He’s on his feet when I return. There’s a change in him. His face morphs into a sneer. “I’m done playing. Where’s Hayden? He was supposed to be home, but I got you showing up instead.Where is he?”
“Why so you can confess your undying love? You’renothingto him.” There’s an uneasy feeling in my gut about what his plans for Hayden were.
The man snarls and lunges at me again. I dance out of his way.
Sweat beads on his brow and he wipes his forehead with the back of his head before he runs at me. “Hayden tells me I’m doing amazing. He says?—”
The man is too slow, and I easily twist out of his way. I bonk him on the back of the head with the bat, disorienting him, but not knocking him out. “Hayden is being encouraging because that’s the type of people he and Dallas are. I’m sure he sends dozens of the same kind of emails. All copy and pasted messages. You’re not special.”
“I am.” He fists his hands. “Stop lying.”
“You were planning on raping him, weren’t you?” My stomach twists and turns.
“He would have said yes.”
“Ah, and that gives me my out. Say night night.”
He snarls again, but before he can make another move, I shoot him right between the eyes. Relief floods my veins. No more worrying. No fucking my morals.
I pull my phone from my pocket and call the clean-up crew, transferring money before we even hang up. I even send them a bonus for the stairs.
