I nod, patting her arm softly. “I am now. Just a little jumpy still.”
“I’ll keep the surprises to a minimum for a while.” She gives me another tight squeeze, pulling back with a wide smile. “Except for one more. I’m taking you out!”
I have to stifle my groan, not wanting to rain on her parade. “It’s Monday, though…”
She laughs. “Just for dinner and a drink or two. Come on, it’ll cheer you up. Give you something to do so you don’t sit around stewing.”
She knows me too well. “But I like to stew…”
She rolls her eyes, pulling me into my apartment and shoving me toward my bedroom. “I know, and it’s not good for you. Get changed into something comfy.”
“Music to my ears.”
I hurry to do as she instructs, picking a pair of jean cutoffs and an old Amigo the Devil T-shirt, finishing the look off with my favorite pair of black Chucks.
“Cute,” Saffron says, giving me a nod of approval as soon as I step out of the bedroom. “Ready to go?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I grab my purse and keys from the counter. “Where are we going?”
“Mr. Brewsters.”
“Oh my God, they have thebestfried pickles!” My mouth is watering at the thought.
Clearly, my approval shows on my face because Saffron lets out a hearty chuckle. “I had a feeling you wouldn't turn those down.”
“You really do know me too well,” I say, laughing as I follow her out the door.
Saffron grins over her beer, raising a hand to cheers me with her fried pickle dipped in ranch.
“Our pickles touched.” I stifle a smile as Saffron falls sideways in the booth, laughing. “What? This is serious.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye as she sits upright. Saffron pops the fried pickle into her mouth, her eyes rolling back as she chews quickly. “And these are ridiculously good. I could kiss the line cook.”
“Honestly? Same,” I say around a mouthful of my own. “It’s a good thing we ordered two.”
“Best decision we ever made.” Saffron nods solemnly before she stuffs her mouth with another few chips. She washes it down with a chug of beer, slamming the tumbler onto the table witha satisfied sigh. “Good shit. Are you sure you don’t want one? It goes great with all the fried food.”
“Your metabolism scares me.” I swirl my glass of vodka tonic. “I’m good with this.”
She shrugs, popping another pickle into her mouth as she turns to look at the TV screen to the side of our booth. At least a dozen TVs are spread around Mr. Brewster’s. Many—like the one Saffron is enamored with—are showing the hockey game, while the others are broadcasting the evening news.
Normally, I’d be watching the game with Saffron, but the story they’re covering on the news catches my attention. There’s no sound playing, but the title indicates they’re running a story about the ongoing search for Moriton’s latest serial killer.
Red 7.
Chills spread over my body as the screen flashes to a picture of the mayor’s son. Brenden Cooper stares back with soft brown eyes, his handsome smile hiding the monster lurking just beneath the surface. Before I have time to process it, the broadcast switches to a video of Brenden’s father, Mayor Cooper, speaking to the media about his youngest son’s tragic passing.
“Brenden Cooper was a thoughtful, kind, and selfless boy. He always put others’ needs before his own and wanted to make the world a better place.”He raises a hand to his eye, wiping away a nonexistent tear, as his wife, standing behind his shoulder, sniffles into a handkerchief.“I have no doubt Brenden was doing something noble just before he was killed. It’s the only thing that brings me and my family comfort.”
I resist the urge to scoff.Real noble…
A reporter draws his attention.“Mr. Cooper! Do you have any idea who could have done something like this?”
Mayor Cooper nods tersely.“We have reason to believe the serial killer Red 7 is behind this. I can’t share any more details, as it could impede the investigation.”
“Do you have any last comments you’d like to share with the people of Moriton?”
Blythe Cooper pulls his shoulders back as he stares dead into the camera.“The city of Moriton is committed to finding and bringing this deranged killer to justice—for Brenden, and the countless other lives lost because of this monster. Red 7, if you’re watching, we’re coming for you. You will be found. You will pay.”
