I blinked fast. “How?”
“Either the Canceled Killer started mimicking what Jared did online, or he actually hacked Jared’s accounts. I’m not sure which, but if you want my theory, the Canceled Killer wanted Jared to take the fall. He was just using you as a means to get there.”
It had never occurred to me that I was a tool to an end. I’d always just assumed I was the one in the wrong, that I’d made the mistake all on my own.
“You said it yourself: The Canceled Killer is playing some kind of long game.” I did say that. I was also flattered Jude remembered it. “There’s one more thing I wanted to talk to you about…” Jude said and then hesitated.
I waited.
“Oscar wanted me to…”
“Is this about the mayor?”
Jude looked extremely guilty. “It is about the mayor.” He sighed. “It’s an election year, and, well, Oscar wanted to know if maybe… you’d think about… talking to the mayor.”
At the mention of Stokes, blood rushed in my ears.
“About what? About how I’d like to kick his spleen into next week? I’d love to talk to him about that.”
“No. About… maybe… not attacking him.”
“Tell him not to touch me, and I’ll happily never touch him again.”
Jude sighed. “I know. Oscar says the mayor is threatening to get his friend the judge involved.”
“To do what?” I challenged. “There are no charges to press.”
“Maybe he’ll want to bring in the state police.”
“On a misdemeanor? Good luck. Besides, I did nothing wrong. I defended myself.”
“I know. I know that. I was there.” Jude sent me a pained look. “I told Oscar that, too. So, you know what? I’m with you. To hell with Stokes. Oscar shouldn’t have asked me to intervene.”
“Yeah, he should have been brave enough to ask me himself. Why didn’t he?”
“He said that I’m the only one you never punch,” he said. “That’s a direct quote.”
“You don’t have a very punchable face,” I said.
“If that’s a compliment, I’ll take it.”
I had to laugh at that.
Suddenly, the bamboo gate rattled open, flung so hard it hit the fence with a popping sound. Russo strode through the gate like he owned the place, his face twisted into a scowl, as if he was looking for the perfect perp to wrestle to the ground.
Russo glanced at Jude and me with surprise. Then his frown grew even deeper.
“You okay, kid?” Russo asked me.
“Uh. Yeah. Fine.”
“You didn’t answer my texts.”
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket. Mateo hadn’t been texting. It had been Russo. And one missed call as well. I felt a rush of guilt. I’d been ignoring the vibrating phone all the time I’d been talking to Jude.
“I was…” I said, feeling a little embarrassed to be caught talking to Jude, though I had no idea why. Russo and I weren’t dating. He had no hold over me. But he gave Jude a cold sweep of his gaze.
“Busy,” Russo finished my sentence for me as he narrowed his eyes. “I see.”
