Page 24 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Elliot.”

He turned. Claire approached carrying two coffees again. He looked at them.

“You're developing a problem.”

“One is yours.”

“I didn't ask for one.”

“You never do.”

She handed it to him. Elliot took it. Claire looked awful. Not Monday-morning awful. Actually awful. Her hair was loose and unbrushed, and faint shadows sat beneath her eyes. She'd thrown an oversized black coat over what looked suspiciously like pajamas.

“You sleep?” Elliot asked.

“Barely.”

“Why?”

She looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.

“Because somebody was murdered ten minutes from my apartment.”

“Do we know he was murdered?”

Claire stopped walking. Elliot stopped beside her.

“Elliot.”

“What?”

“They found him stabbed.”

He watched her. That information hadn't appeared in the university alert.

“Where'd you hear that?”

“Everyone knows.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“Lena's boyfriend knows someone in Kappa. Tyler talked to the police.”

“Which still doesn't explain how Tyler would know.”

Claire lowered her voice.

“Apparently there was blood everywhere.”

Elliot took a sip of coffee. Too hot. Vanilla. Extra shot. Exactly right.

“Rumors get fucked up fast.”

“You don't think it's true?”

“I think Mason's dead and the police haven't publicly said how.”

Claire studied him.