Page 130 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“You're right.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“No. You're right.”

“Elliot.”

He stepped away from the island. Ronan caught his arm.

“Stop walking away from every argument.”

“I'm not arguing.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No, I'm realizing something.”

“What?”

Elliot looked at him. Maybe this was the problem. Ronan thought Dylan was vulnerable. Ronan thought Elliot was safe. The equation was backwards. Dylan had police, a lawyer, parents, friends. Ronan had Elliot. And Elliot had no intention of letting anyone turn Ronan into a convenient monster because Elliot had been too careless to protect what belonged to him.

“Nothing,” Elliot said.

Ronan sighed.

“Fuck that word.”

Elliot smiled. This time, Ronan didn't. By noon, Ronan's name had reached local television. Not officially. No police statement. No reporter standing outside his house. Just enough. A blurred screenshot of the online post appeared during a segment discussing public speculation. The anchor explicitly warned viewers against identifying private citizens. Then displayed Ronan's photograph anyway. Elliot stood in the living room watching. Ronan had stopped watching twenty minutes earlier. He sat at the kitchen island working on his model, pretending none of it mattered. The reporter spoke carefully.

“Bellweather Police have not identified any person of interest in either homicide.”

The screen showed Saint Augustine's Park. Then Lucas's photograph. Then Mason.

“Officials are also urging the public not to circulate unverified claims regarding individuals connected socially to either victim.”

The photograph of Ronan disappeared. Too late. Elliot's phone vibrated. Claire.

CLAIRE: people are posting ronan

Elliot typed:

ELLIOT: i know

CLAIRE: is he okay?

Elliot looked toward him. Ronan bent over the model beneath the pendant lights. Knife in hand. Dark hair falling over his forehead. Fucking calm.

ELLIOT: he's fine

Claire responded.

CLAIRE: are YOU okay

Elliot stared. Interesting.

ELLIOT: yes

CLAIRE: police came to campus again