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“You made some bad decisions, and turned a blind eye along the way,even when that meant screwing over innocent people. Well, it’s time to pay the piper,Len, my man.”
He tries to sit up once more, moving just enough to make the rope pull tight.
Hmm…I knew I should have given him a bigger dose.
He surprises me when he reaches up a shaky hand to his neck, his confused expression melting away to one of horror.
“Thanks for the chat. I hope you enjoy your one-way trip to hell.”I stand up and walk over to him as he struggles to free himself from the noose.
Not wanting to waste time if the drugs aren’t enough to paralyze him,Imove behind him,slide my hand under his arm and help him stand up. He grips the railing with one hand to steady himself before once again trying to loosen the noose. While he struggles,I shove him as hard as I can. He slams into the railing, his body halfway over the top of it as he tries to grab hold of the frame to stop himself from falling.
“Not this time,Len,”I say, pushing him the rest of the way. I watch with glee as he plummets over the edge of the railing and falls until he reaches the end of the rope, and it pulls tight.
I hear an audible snap, and I sigh.“For fuck’s sake.”I knew the fucker was too big. I was hoping he’d swing for a while,and I’d get to watch him panic and claw at his throat. But from the sound of things, his neck just broke.
Moving back to the spot I was sitting in, I slide the music box into the space where Len’s boots left a mark in the dirt. I flip it open and let my eyes drift closed for a moment as the tune washes over me.
Once the music ends,I brush myself off and climb down the steps before walking over to Len’s hanging body. I look up at him.His eyes are open, but his vacant stare lets me know that nobody’s home anymore. I grab his ankles and spin him around, laughing. It’s giving me ideas for my next kill. Picture this: a human piñata. I mean, who doesn’t love piñatas?
My eyes snap open, and everything rushes back in. Looking up, I see Valen’s handsome face staring down at me, his brow furrowed with worry.
“Are you okay?”
I nod before bursting into tears.
He yanks me into his arms and sits with me in his lap, rocking me gently back and forth. “I’ve got you, Rue. Let it out,” he murmurs into my hair.
“Is she okay?” I hear it said softly, but I can’t find it in me to pull away from Valen’s chest to answer.
“Do you know who she is?” Valen asks.
“No, sir. I was just?—”
“She’s the psychic the killer grabbed,” the gruff cop at the desk answers, making me tense.
“Easy, baby, you’re okay. Don’t think about them. Just focus on me. Focus on my voice, on the smell of my shirt, the feel of my heartbeat thumping underneath your fingertips.”
I do as he asks and start to calm down, leaving me feeling more embarrassed than anything.
“Can I get you some water?” the soft voice asks.
I look up and see the pretty cop watching me with concern. “Water would be great, thank you,” I manage to choke out.
I look around and see we’re now behind the counter, away from prying eyes.
“They let you go?” I whisper, burrowing into him, feeling cold all of a sudden.
“Room two is free. Let’s take this in there.” I recognize Nathan’s voice.
I look over Valen’s shoulder and see Nathan farther down the corridor, his eyes boring a hole into the back of Valen’s skull.
“Is it really necessary?” Valen hisses at him but stands up with me still in his arms and carries me down the hall.
“Our interview was cut short before you could sign your statement. And I’d like to know what Rue saw. It might be something useful.”
“I want in on that too.” At the new voice, Hask grimaces and steps aside. “I’m Agent Garfield.” He doesn’t offer anymore.
Valen walks over to one of the two vacant chairs on the far side of the table. He arranges me in his lap, and the female cop places the glass of water on the table in front of me. “Thank you,” I tell her as I reach for the glass and take a small sip, trying not tospill it all over the place. Nathan and Agent Garfield take the two empty chairs on the opposite side of the table. Everyone is quiet for a moment, the atmosphere cold and uncomfortable.
