Page 119 of The Killing Plains

“Turn around, damn you.”

Niall pivoted slowly to face the wall and placed his palms against it.

“If you have a weapon, tell me now,” Colly said.

“Phone, keys, wallet. That’s it.”

“Don’t move.”

She approached him cautiously. Pressing the gun against his spine, she took his phone and stuffed it in her pocket, then patted him down with her free hand, emptying his pockets and tossing the contents onto the workbench.

“Can I turn around now?” he asked when she stepped away.

“Shut up. Stay where you are.”

“Colly—”

“I said shut up.” A decrepit rolling office chair stood in front of the workbench. Colly shoved it behind his knees, then stepped back. “Sit down, then turn very slowly. Keep your hands on the armrests.”

He obeyed, his dark eyes fixed on the gun’s muzzle. “Am I under arrest?”

“I’m not a cop anymore. But police are on the way. Meanwhile, it’s your choice if you want to talk to me.”

Niall didn’t seem to hear her. He had torn his gaze from the gun, and his eyes were roving around the shed, scanning the floor, ceiling, shelves, workbench. “At least tell me why—” He spotted the bin labeled “Hares’ Masks,” and froze. “Oh...” His eyes met Colly’s, and he moved to stand up.

Colly raised the gun. “Don’t.”

He checked himself. Suddenly, all the energy seemed to drain from him. He looked sick. “I—I forgot those were here.”

“You’re a good actor. You really had me going with that sophisticated-psychologist routine.” Colly lowered herself onto the edge of the workbench, keeping her gun trained on his chest. “Why’d you do it?”

“I didn’t kill Adam.”

“No. You just pulled him out of that pond and left him for the scavengers, with one of these creepy things in his hand.” She jerked her head towards the bin of masks beside her.

Niall looked up. “It was a mistake, but it doesn’t warrant holding me at gunpoint—it was twenty years ago.”

Colly ignored this. “Why didn’t you call the cops when you found him?”

“You won’t understand.”

“Try me.”

“You’re making me nervous. Put the gun away, and I’ll talk.”

Colly shook her head. Her fingers tightened on the weapon’s grip.

Niall shifted impatiently. “Look, you’ve already searched me. What am I going to do, attack you with a fish hook?”

“I won’t shoot unless you do something dumb.”

“Speaking as a Black man, that’s not reassuring.” Niall watched her for a moment. “Colly, it’s me. An hour ago, you were telling me your life story. If you jump ahead of your evidence, you’ll be making the same mistake you made in Houston.”

Colly pursed her lips, hesitating. Finally, she laid the weapon on the bench, pointing the muzzle towards the wall but keeping her hand on it.

Niall’s shoulders relaxed. “Thanks.”

“Why didn’t you report finding Adam’s body?”

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