“Oh.”
I patted my coat, reached inside, and removed the envelope that I’d gotten in the mail. “I got this letter Wed—no, Thursday. In the mail. No return address or anything, but it’s addressed to the Emporium.”
“What does it say?” Calvin asked, not looking away from the road.
I gingerly opened the letter once more. “‘I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.’” I looked at Calvin. “I don’t know if this means anything about…anything, but it’s strange.”
“Is that all?”
“Yeah.” I put the letter away. “Does it mean something to you?”
He was reluctant, but eventually nodded. “Yes.”
“Really? What?”
“‘The Cask of Amontillado.’”
“The Cask—that’s another Poe story.” I swore under my breath. “I should have realized.”
“Have you read that one? I had to search the phrase.”
“I think I have. Isn’t that the one where a man walls up his enemy?”
“Yes,” Calvin answered.
I hesitated over my next question. “Did Mike get the same letter?”
Again, Calvin just said, “Yes.”
“Jesus.” I looked out the side window. “He’s going to kill me.” The statement was some sort of terrifying revelation. “He actually tried yesterday.”
“No one is going to kill you,” Calvin said sternly. “And yesterday he failed.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Don’t argue with me, baby.” Calvin glanced sideways briefly. “No one is going to hurt you again.”
It was difficult to not fight him, to point out that he couldn’t be around 24/7, but I didn’t have the energy to complain. And besides, having him be so defensive of me was sort of nice.
“Sebastian?”
“Hmm?”
“Do you know anything about African greys?”
“Come again?”
“The parrot.”
I turned to Calvin and sort of laughed. “No, should I?”
“Just curious.”
“Why?” When he didn’t answer, I kept pressing. “Does this have to do withthecase?”
“I can’t discuss it.”
“You’ve discussed other points with me.”
