There was a scuffle, and then Kieran’s voice was in my ear. “Who is this?” he demanded.
“Umm, Rett.”
“Ghost!” Kieran bellowed.
I winced. “I have to go.”
“You hang up that phone and I will turn you into a before-and-after photo.”
“Kieran!” Haz yelled.
“Sit down before I tie you up,” he snapped.
“Why does it sound worse than a low-budget action movie in here?” Ghost’s voice joined the party.
“He threatened to turn Rett into a before-and-after photo!” Haz accused.
A heartbeat of silence.
Hiro’s voice was quiet. “We’ve talked about this, Vaughnn.”
Kieran didn’t seem the least bit intimidated even though the hair was standing up on the back of my neck. His voice was dry when he responded with, “He found your murder locker.”
“My what now?” Ghost asked.
“How did you know?” Haz was plaintive.
Kieran sighed. “Why else would you be hiding in the bathroom, flapping your lips like a politician during election season?”
“It’s giving cartoon character after too many espressos,” Ghost added.
Haz groaned and then totally tattled. “I think he hurt himself! I heard a loud zap, and then he yelled and there was a crash.”
To be fair, if I were trapped in a bathroom with two hitmen, I’d sing like a canary too.
My stomach twisted nervously, and I was suddenly sorry I’d eaten those Goldfish. He was going to be mad, wasn’t he?Bigmad.
The line shuffled, and then Hiro’s voice was deep in my ear. “Pip? You hurt? What happened?”
“I’m fine,” I squeaked. “I, ah, found your taser.”
“Put it down!” he hollered. “Do you know how many volts that thing puts out? It has enough juice to reset your entire personality, and I like it the way it is.”
Oh.“You do?”
“You snooping through my house, Pip?” Hiro asked.
“I-I-I ate some Goldfish,” I blurted. “I’m sorry.”
“You like Goldfish, hm? I’ll get some more on the way home.”
“You aren’t mad?”
“Why would I be mad? It’s your house too,” Hiro said.
“But I found your murder locker.”
“You like it?”
