Page 37 of Haunted

“In the future, we make these types of decisions together.”

“I can agree to that.”

“Then, okay.”

“Thank you, baby.” His heavy exhale and the jingle of keys played in the background. “I’ve gotta run.”

“Go catch the bad guys.”

Lowering my hand, I scrambled to keep a grip on the phone when Lanie cleared her throat from across the room where she’d propped herself against the dresser. I’d been so entranced in the call I’d completely forgotten about my audience. Embarrassment flooded my cheeks, thinking about the conversation she’d overheard. While it wasn’t X-rated, it was still intimate and not what she signed up for when she agreed to let me live with her.

“Sorry about all that.” I padded across the carpeted floor, holding out the borrowed phone.

“Why are you apologizing? Personally, I think you should’ve made him grovel more. The nerve of him wanting to spend money on you.” She raised a sarcastic brow.

“I don’t need him to take care of me though.”

“See, that’s where you’re missing the point.” She turned, exiting the room and leaving me baffled.

It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up before I rushed out into the hallway.

“What point?” I hollered as she stalked down the steps.

“There’s a big difference between himneedingto look after you because he thinks you’re incapable, andwantingto do it because he cares deeply about you. Trust me, it’s the latter.”

7BEAST MODE

Keaton

“Excuse me, Keaton,” Sammy interrupted one of the few breaks we’d had all morning.

For some unknown reason, Mayor Dipshit thought it would be a phenomenal idea to hold an impromptu press conference at the ass-crack of dawn to “raise public awareness about the serial killer terrorizing our town.” His words, not ours. Then, in an even greater show of stupidity, he gave out the phone number to our satellite office, encouraging said public to notify us immediately if they saw anything suspicious. The number of phone calls we’d fielded already from nosy neighbors ratting each other out was astonishing.

“There’s a call for you on line one,” she finished.

“Please tell me it’s not another whack job.”

“I can’t be certain, but they asked for you specifically.”

Raising my arms over my head, I stretched and twisted my back from side to side, releasing the knots which had begun to form from sitting in one place for hours at a time. Noah was across from me, tapping a pen against his desk, looking as frustrated as I felt, while Lanie and Koen wereunlucky enough to be in the field, running down one false lead after another.

Picking up the receiver, I blew out a breath through my nose as I tried to garner a bit of patience for the person on the other end. It wasn’t their fault the only thing the mayor had succeeded in doing was scaring the fuck out of the locals.

“Special Agent Clarke.”

“I hear you’re looking for me, Calvin.” The use of my real name sent shards of ice down my spine. “Wait, that’s right. You go by Keaton now.”

Snapping my fingers to get Noah’s attention, I mouthed, “get me a location.” When his head shot up, he flew from his chair, seeing the urgency clearly written on my face, and ran to Nelson’s desk. I could hear the rapid pounding of fingers against the keyboard within seconds.

“I seem to be at a disadvantage. You obviously know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“And you won’t until I’m ready.”

His voice wasn’t familiar in the least. My best guess was he was using some sort of device to disguise it.

“Let’s cut the shit. What do you want?”

“Peace on earth?” He chuckled.

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