Page 74 of Sweet

“Small town. Like you said. Anyone who worked at the farmer’s market last year could say the same.”

“Jason, we almost missed, since he’s not a year-round resident. And the bit about Henri, that’s news to us. Bailey didn’t recognize him, and Henri’s the only piece of the puzzle that we couldn’t fit so far.”

Three major things happen simultaneously at this very moment. Not only do I realize how easily all of this could alsobe tied to me, but that the police have already spoken to Cas. Which means I have to stop myself from blurting that Cas’s last boyfriend, who he told me wasmurdered, happened to be named Henri. How the fuck did that slip past me until now?

The detective studies me quietly, but there isn’t anything to say without being asked a question. “You seem pretty distraught by this.”

“My best friend is missing and you’re telling me a serial killer is picking off guys like us. How should I be?”

“That’s understandable, Will.” Detective Sax crosses his arms while staring at me. “Let me tell you what I know, followed by what I think.”

“Go right ahead,” I say with a sweeping gesture.

“As of right now, Henri DeSantos and Jason Wilton are still missing. We found Riley Snyder’s body in the woods yesterday afternoon, only a couple of miles from the dairy farm run by Jesse’s family.”

“Oh, my god.” I sit up straighter and lean forward. Riley’s dead. Actually dead. “And you’re sure it’s him?”

“Yes, despite decomposition we were able to make a positive identification. We’re also working on collecting some DNA.” When I don’t say anything more, he adds, “What are you thinking, Will?”

“I’m thinking, I didn’t know Riley long or well, but… I can’t believe he’s actually dead.”

“Now that you know what I know, I’ll let you know what I think.” Detective Sax leans closer to the table and continues. “Henri and Jason both vanished without a trace. Whatever happened to them would’ve been calculated. Practiced. Controlled. As for Riley…”

He pauses and slides a crime scene photo in front of me. Fuck me, that’s gross and I can’t help recoiling.

“Riley pissed someone off, which means his case isn’t like the other two. This was angry, and it was sloppy. And I think he knew it, and he panicked, so he left town before we caught up with him.”

“I’m sorry, who?”

“Jesse.” Detective Sax takes the crime scene photo and places it back in the folder. “You’re right when you say it’s easy to connect most of these men to multiple people. Bailey, for example. Even to you. But given some evidence we found at the crime scene and the location of Riley’s body, and his disappearance coinciding with Jesse’s, we have reason to believe Jesse had been involved.”

“Jesse did this?”

“I understand he’s your best friend, but if you know something about this, now is the time to tell us.”

“I… I don’t even know what to say.”

And I really don’t. Holy shit. Until today, Cas has been right all along. Hasn’t he? I don’t want to believe Jess did any of this. I don’t really like the alternative, either; that Cas somehow managed to get away with four murders.

Even while I consciously try to suppress that idea, one thought keeps resurfacing: Cas pointing out to me how Jesse kept referring to Riley asdeadwhen he was onlymissing. That slip of the tongue seemed so damning then. And just now, the detective said Henri is still missing. Not murdered. Missing. Maybe Cas simply assumed the worst, but it’s enough to make me stop and think. And question. And doubt. Only one other person fits into this puzzle perfectly, one who even Jesse said has been lying through his teeth to me.

“Has Jesse tried to contact you in any way?”

“No, he… our friendship really wasn’t the same after I started dating my boyfriend,” I mutter.

“Bailey,” Detective Sax clarifies. “So far, you’re telling us almost everything he already did. Except, Bailey was well aware that Jess didn’t like him very much.”

“Yes, things were tense for a bit. I was sort’ve seeing them both for a short period of time but they knew about it. I ended up with my boyfriend. Jess and I agreed to remain friends.”

The detective hums. “Then you’re both lucky to be alive. Henri and Jason disappeared some time over the last twelve months. Best we can tell, Riley was last seen leaving work on the twentieth of last month, and as you said, he didn’t show for work the next day. Can you recall what you were doing the night before?”

“I’m sorry… this is all just…”

“It’s fine. Take your time. The twentieth of November. The week before Thanksgiving.”

“What day of the week was that?” I ask while rubbing my brow. Fuck me. Fuck me. Fuck me. I already know and I think I’m going to be sick.

“Friday. It was a Friday.”

---