Page 84 of Massacre Monday

Ryan is quiet for so long that I turn my head to glance at him. He’s studying the table as if it’s very interesting. “That’s what I need to find out.”

“You’re keeping something from me.”

His head tilts to the side slightly as he considers me for a moment. As soon I place a plate in front of him with the egg sandwich, he takes a big bite. “Fuck, this is amazing.”

I chuckle. “It’s not that good.”

With all seriousness, he nods. “Yeah, it is.”

One bite of my bacon on toast almost confirms his opinion. “It is pretty good, but I think we’re both really hungry.”

We eat in silence, other than his moans of pleasure every time he chews. I realize he’s changed the subject from what we were discussing and I’m left in the dark. “If I’m your partner, bring me in on what you know,” I tell him with a pointed look.

He wipes his mouth with a paper napkin and takes a large drink of water before responding. “Okay. I think her father was murdered.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“I’m not exactly sure… That’s where I’m caught up.” His eyes linger on mine, and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“You think Professor Hall’s murder has something to do with me, but aren’t sure what.” As I try to put some pieces together, confusion grows. “Maybe she did something to Mitch.”

Ryan straightens up at the name, and the movement catches my eye. “Didyoudo something to Mitch?” I ask him.

“Like stuff him in a vat of acid?”

My jaw drops, breath catching. “Y-you did?”

He smirks. “No. But I really want to. As soon as we find him.”

My stomach grumbles and not from the satisfying breakfast. “What if he found the same fate as Gwen? And if people close to me are being hunted, why not take me instead?”

“You aren’t close to Mitch. And the reason I don’t know the answer to those questions is why we’re here this week.”

A flash of the horrific image I’ve tried to forget enters my mind. It was only a month ago, but it still haunts me like it happened yesterday. I don’t want to remember it…but there it is. The knife flashing through the dark night. A man crumpling to the ground with his chest splayed open. Cracks of his ribs. Sloshing from the organs.

And I didnothingto stop it, except hide, like a coward. A scenario I’d be ashamed to tell my father and brothers about.

Maybe this was never random. Maybe it was all about me.

“What happened to the guy that used a knife on Massacre Monday?”

Ryan finishes up his food and sits back. His hand snakes across the table and grabs my free one. “What guy?”

“There was a man in a cloak who carved open a brother’s chest and killed him.”

He grows still and stares at me in disbelief. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

“I don’t know. I just now thought of it. Plus, I’ve had to deal with a crazed stalker this month.”

“In a cloak…”

“Yeah. A black one. Maybe. It was dark.”

“Give me a minute.” He presses a few buttons on his phone and lifts it to his ear. “Who was carved up on Massacre Monday?” With a shove off the table, he paces up and down the hall of the RV and talks to whoever is on the other end. “So who did it? And you reviewed the tapes? What are they doing on Sin Sunday? President Harvey…”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows down some words. “Okay. Thanks. Nah, I’m out this week. I’ll be there next week…with Pippi. See you.”

When he hangs up, he bends over the table and places a kiss on the top of my head. A heavy sigh accompanies his gritted voice. “We’re definitely staying here.”