Page 142 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Silence. Ronan heard a door close on Elliot's end. Car door. Then the low chime of an ignition.

“Drive home.”

“Planning on it.”

“Straight home.”

Elliot laughed.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Another pause.

“Fine.”

The line disconnected. Ronan stood with the phone against his ear for several seconds after the call ended. Then lowered it. Something was wrong. That did not mean murder. He forced himself to separate the two. Something was wrong. Elliot was hiding something. People hid things. Ronan hid things. The relationship alone proved that. Maybe Elliot had gone somewhere because of them. Maybe he'd met someone. Maybe Detective Vance had contacted him again and Elliot didn't want another argument. Maybe Claire actually had asked for help and plans changed. Maybe— The front door opened twenty-two minutes later. Ronan was waiting. He hated that he was waiting. Elliot stepped inside with rain darkening the shoulders of his coat. His hair was damp.

His expression was already annoyed.

“Don't.”

Ronan stood beside the island.

“I didn't say anything.”

“You're standing there like someone's father.”

“Where were you?”

Elliot shut the door.

“Campus.”

“Where?”

“You know where.”

“Why?”

He removed his coat slowly.

“Walk.”

“Why lie about Claire?”

“I didn't.”

“Stop saying that.”

Elliot hung the coat.

“Claire asked for help earlier.”

“She says you left her on read.”

“After.”