Page 63 of Memphis

“Crazy isn’t the right word.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe you like this shit. Might as well be watching a horror flick.”

“Oh no. I can’t take those. They mess with my head.”

“And this shit doesn’t?”

“No, not at all.”

“I don’t see the difference.”

“I like thinking about the case and why they did what they did and the methods they used to get away with it—or at least tried to get away with it.” She actually believed what she was sayingas she explained, “But scary movies are all about fear and jump scares. It’s just so over the top and unbelievable.”

“Nah, I’m not buying it.” I turned off the TV as I told her, “You’re just watching this shit so you can find a way to kill me someday.”

“Oh, I already know how I’d do it.”

“What!”

“Yeah, I know exactly how I’d do it.”

“Now, that’s just fucked up.”

“Oh, and I’d get away with it, too.” Her smile couldn’t have been wider as she said, “I wouldn’t do anything stupid like burying pieces of you in the backyard. I’d put some actual thought into it.”

“Oh really? And what would you do with me?” Before she could respond, I held up my hand, stopping her from speaking. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

“You sure?” she asked, sounding almost disappointed. “Cause it’s good. It’d be one for the books.”

“That’s it. I’m gonna have to have you again.” I stood and took hold of her hand, guiding her towards the bedroom. “It’s the only way I’m gonna be able to get this shit out of my head and sleep tonight.”

“Oh, it isn’t that bad. I would just give you something that would make you fall asleep, and then...”

“You’re pushing it, woman.”

I’d watched my brothers fall for their ol’ ladies, and they fell hard. Hell, their whole worlds had been turned upside down, and they loved every minute of it. I never thought that would be something that I’d want or need, but after spending the last couple of weeks with Toni, I finally understood.

I took her to bed that night, and I made love to her until neither of us could remember a damn thing about her crazy show or her plans for my demise. The following morning, shewas up at dawn and packing her bag. “How long are you going to be gone?”

“Just a couple of days.” She didn’t sound excited as she told me, “I’ve got to spend some time at the office, and I thought I’d go by and see Dad.”

“Why?” I hadn’t had a good feeling about Carmine since my last conversation with my mother. Even though the brother was gone, I still had a feeling that something wasn’t right. I wondered if she still had the same feeling, so I asked, “Is something going on with him?”

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s just been a while, and I feel like I need to see him.”

“I really wish you’d hold off on going by there.”

“Why?”

“I have my reasons.”

“That’s not an answer.” She sat down on the edge of the bed and studied me with narrowed eyes. “Oh, wait. Do you know what’s been going on?”

Her reaction caught me off guard.

I had no idea that she knew what was going on with her dad and my mother. I saw no reason why she would’ve kept it from me, but she clearly knew something. “Do you?”

“Do I know what?”

“It’s a simple question, Toni.”

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