Page 213 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Ronan stopped pacing. The room went completely still around him.

“What did you say?”

“That I barely know either of you.”

“Then?”

“He said forget it.”

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

“Did he seem afraid of Elliot?”

“I don’t know.”

There it was. That fucking phrase again. Ronan stared toward the staircase. Elliot was somewhere above him. Silent. Close. Suddenly impossible to understand.

“Ronan?”

He blinked.

“Sorry.”

“If you hear from him—”

“I’ll call immediately.”

“Please.”

“I promise.”

The line ended. Ronan stood with the phone against his ear. Dylan had asked about him and Elliot. Lucas had allegedly said Elliot scared him. Someone had sent Elliot photographs of Dylan. Someone had sent Ronan a message about Mason screaming. Someone had left Elliot’s box on their porch. Someone had left Ronan’s name on Dylan’s door. Now Dylan was missing. Ronan looked toward the stairs. Every road kept returning to Elliot. He hated himself for noticing. But hating a thought did not make it disappear. At 7:11, Detective Vance called. Ronan answered immediately.

“Did you find him?”

“No.”

His stomach dropped.

“What did you find?”

“Dylan’s phone was placed near the eastern entrance to Saint Augustine’s.”

“Placed?”

“Yes.”

“Not dropped?”

“We don’t know yet.”

“What else?”

“Nothing I can discuss.”

Ronan laughed angrily.