Frederica leaned toward Haze. “And how are you doing? I mean, really doing?”
Haze shrugged. “Same shit, different day.”
Frederica nodded. “It’s so dull, isn’t it? This just surviving, not really living.”
Roger took a sip of wine. “You can understand why people need to shake things up. To try and live a more exciting life. To feel like you’re really making the most of this one chance on this earth.”
“Especially when you’re hot,” Frederica purred at me as she touched my arm, letting her hand linger there.
I dropped my fork. “I…Yes, it’s important to feel you’re getting the most you can from life.”
Luckily for Frederica, she removed her hand before Haze’s fork stabbed it.
Roger smiled at Fox. “I knew you’d understand how vital it is to have certain excitements to help you feel alive. To stray from the status quo.”
Frederica played with a lock of her hair, curling a tendril around her finger. “We’ve been looking for a couple like you. We feel that you’re more like us than you probably realize.”
Roger nodded. “We all have a dangerous side. Some of us lean into it more than others.”
“We know certain things about you. We have a similar hobby in common.” Frederica smiled.
Haze and I looked at each other. They couldn’t be—could they?
What were the chances of two serial-killing couples living inthe same neighborhood? I’d say slim to none. But I guess not impossible.
“We don’t want to be competition for each other,” Frederica said.
“That would not end well for you.” Roger put his arm around his wife.
Were they outing themselves as worthy opponents? Or wanting to get their freak on?
They were giving very mixed messages.
Frederica and Roger both stood. “We’ll leave you for a moment. We need to get dessert.”
We watched them go through to the kitchen and speak quietly to each other as the door swung back behind them.
Haze turned to me and whispered, “Do they want to fuck us or kill us?”
I shrugged. “It’s not clear, is it?”
Haze yawned. “I’m really not up for either.”
I could understand if they’d got wind of the killer part to our personalities. From the sound of Roger’s dodgy business, it wasn’t a stretch to believe he’d had brushes with The Corporation. But what about us made it seem like we’d be into swinging? Unless they always invited over couples they didn’t know and hoped for the best.
Haze stared at the closed kitchen door. “Frederica and Roger could be working for The Chameleon. They could be the ones watching us and messing in our lives.”
I nodded. “Jenny needs to look into him. He could have all kinds of dark contacts who may have got wind of what we’ve been up to.”
“Whatever they’re after, let’s not stick around to find out.”
The door opened and they both walked back in, now holding a can of whipped cream and a bowl of strawberries. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked as if Roger had undone another button on his shirt.
Haze stood up. “We’re so sorry, but the babysitter can’t get the baby to settle. We need to leave.”
“That’s such a shame! We were just getting comfortable,” said Frederica, as she followed us into the hallway.
We said our goodbyes fast, without using eye contact, and were out of their front door before we’d even put our coats on. As I helped Haze into hers, I noticed a white moped parked up opposite the house. The helmeted rider sat atop it, staring at us. The number plate was indistinguishable thanks to the artfully placed thick smear of mud across it.
