Page 37 of Bake the Town Red

But that feeling is immediately replaced by an itch of panic prickles, starting in my fingertips. It’ll be the end of me if I don’t get a handle on it.

I do. Of course, I do.

“You too,” I tell her, then to the pervert, “Hi there.”

Timothy strolls in when I move aside, casting awhat the fuckglare at my customer. His blond hair reaches his shoulders, his green eyes leering as usual.

“She’s a good woman,” my new friend says as she’s about to leave the shop, thinking Timothy is my boyfriend.Vomit. “Take care of this one.”

“Will do.” He twirls a lock of my hair around his finger, and it’s all I can do not to puke.

Truth is, I don’t vomit throughout the entire night after that.

Timothy does all the throwing up for both of us. Until he dies.

I forget about everything again. While I skin him. Package his flesh. Put away his bones.

Then I’m back home, missing Tyler as if I never stopped.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tyler

Evening, October Killer fans.

This is the third day of October. Three days without a word from me.

Worry not. I’ve read your comments, have gone through your emails.

You’re curious. Hungry for information that only I can feed you. Desperate to see if I have any news.

I do. It’s no excuse, but I’ve been swamped with work. My day job has been demanding my attention. Deadlines wait for no one. Only then could I stalk them. Had to keep my eyes on my October Killer.

I’m here now, though. And what do I have to tell you?

One thing, and one thing only—I’m close. Closer than I’ve ever been.

Will I catch them? Will I stop them?

You’ll know soon enough. Or not.

Until later,

CTCyfrin.

I slam my laptop shut.

After long hours, and yes—deadlines at work, I wasn’t lying about that—I’m sick of looking at the fucking screen.

Lines and lines of code are my art form.

It’s what lets me keep this place near Bryant Park. It’s also kept me metaphorically chained to a chair for ten hours a day, five days a week, for the past two weeks.

The past two days have been even more intense. Twelve-hour days that have been holding me back. Away from her.

I should be grateful for the distraction. For only being able to catch a glimpse of Dahlia yesterday.

I’m not.

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