Page 30 of The Night Shift

Cami stops mid-shoveling, bending forward to catch her breath. “What happened?” she asks. “Why’d you stop?”

There’s a mix of sweat and dirt coating her forehead, her long blond hair a tangled mess. Still, it looks nice. Unlike the crow’s nest on my head. “Someone knows, Cami.”

Cami frowns. “Knows what?”

I point to the disfigured body in front of us. “That I did this.”

“No, they don’t,” she states matter-of-factly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and wiping some dirt off her face like we’re just doing some light gardening.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because if they did, you’d be behind bars already.”

“Thanks. That’s reassuring.”

“Oh, calm down. I’m just kidding.” She goes back to pouring dirt over the grave and I go back to worrying.

Is Cami right? If someonedidknow I killed a man, I would — Ishouldbe behind bars. That makes sense. If someone does, in fact, know, then why haven’t they called the police? They should have done or said something. What kind of a person witnesses a murder and sits back and doesnothing? Does worse than nothing, actually. They send me a creepy, fucking text complimenting my hair. It just doesn’t make sense. The tiny voice in my head goes off.

Why is this weirdo texting me about it? Why aren’t they turning me in? What does this person want from me? Who is this fucking person?Is someone toying with me? What exactly have they seen? And when? Have they witnessed all the other countless murders I’ve committed too?

A headache begins to mount in my skull as I run the numbers through my head. I’m not sure how many men I’ve killed over the past three years, but it can’t be less than twenty.

Cami shrugs off her denim jacket, hanging it over a tree branch behind her. “Do you want to grab some pizza after this?”

I look at her like she’s gone insane.

“Uh, okay…we can grab ramen if you want.”

“Cami, someone knows I killed a man and I’m not in jail yet.”

“I can drive you to the precinct if that’s what you want.”

“That’s not funny.”

She smiles. “It’s a little funny.”

I roll my eyes. How is she not freaking out about this? I have a goddamn problem on my hands. The magnitude is still unknown, but it’s a problem, nonetheless.

“Well, maybe if you’re so stressed out, then you probably shouldn’t have killed anyone tonight.”

I scoff. “Please be reasonable.”

“All right, how about this? Why don’t we take it one step at a time? Let’s just get rid of the body first and then I’ll drive you back home, make you something to eat, and then we can talk all about it. I’ll even stay the night if that makes you feel better.”

The sickest sense of dread takes over me.

“What is it?” she asks, somehow reading my mind.

“Nothing.”

“No, what is it?”

A sigh travels up my throat to the tip of my tongue, but I swallow it. “I…I don’t want to start a fight again, but I don’t think you should stay over. It’s nothing personal and I’m not accusing you of anything. I just…I need to be alone for a while.”

Translation:You’re the only one who knows I’ve killed people and I’m not sure I trust you right now.

Cami’s response is instantaneous and equally surprising. “Okay.”