Page 45 of Dead Pretty

I need to stop jumping to the worst conclusion. This has nothing to do with Tobias.

This girl was most likely killed by her boyfriend. It’s horrific and tragic, and I hope the guy rots in prison. But it is nothing for me to panic over.

“I always thought they were a funny couple though. She was real friendly. Would always smile, say hello. He was weird, I thought. Just this vibe about him. He wouldn’t ever talk. Would look right through you, like you weren’t even there.” She shudders. “Probably should have seen it coming. It’s always the quiet ones, right?”

I nod, agreeing with the old adage. Not that it’s right. Sometimes but not always. Psychos can also blend right in with the rest of us.

I catch sight of movement by the entry door to the building. I rise onto my tiptoes, so I can see over the heads in front of me. Police are coming out.

Then, it hits me. I’m just like those people who used to stand over Tobias’s victims. Vultures waiting to pick at the bones of the story. Like the people who used to wait around outside my old home to get a look at the woman who had caused the death of multiple innocent women. Gossipers like the woman beside me.

This isn’t me. I shouldn’t be here.

“I have to go,” I feel the need to tell this woman, already moving away.

“Stay safe, hon,” she says.

I nod and turn away, making my way through the crowd of people, which has grown in size since I got here.

I walk toward my building, a heaviness settling on me.

Another life snuffed out too early.

God, I really hate people at times.

The door to my building opens just as I reach it.

“Jack.” A rush of feelings overwhelms me at the sight of him. A sudden urge to put myself in his arms and have him hold me is strong.

I have to press my feet to the ground to stop myself from giving in to the urge.

“Hey.” His breath fogs in the cold. He moves his eyes to the side, looking at the crowd I just left. “What’s going on over there?”

I stare at him a moment before I answer, “A woman was murdered. The super of the building found her in her apartment.”

I watch as any expression disappears from his face, smoothing out. His eyes are fixed on the crowd ahead.

It seems like a long time, but it’s probably only seconds before he does anything. And it comes in the form of a blink. Then, his face moves back into an easy expression, the one I know him for.

He turns his eyes back to mine. “Do you know what happened?”

I don’t know what I expected him to say, but it wasn’t that. “No.”

His eyes move down to the bag in my hand. “You been shopping?” he asks.

I’m jolted by the abrupt subject change.

“Er … yeah. I just went to buy the lightbulb I owe you.” I hold the bag, containing said lightbulb, out to him.

He takes it from me. “Thanks.”

“Thanks for the loan and the help last night.”

He shrugs.

There’s a moment of silence between us. It’s almost … awkward.

Like we used to have in the beginning when I first met him.