Page 60 of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

“How do you know? Do you think he’s not capable of it?”

“Of what? Stealing money from all of his best friends? No. I don’t. Do you?”

Tavo rubbed at his chest like he had heartburn. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

She was surprised to hear that, gazed over at him. His shoulders were hiked, face grim. He was angry: she could tell by the set of his mouth. Everyone was a little angry at Mav, weren’t they? Everyone except for maybe Hector, who seemed to think Mav got up and put the sun in the sky every morning.

“That’s fucked-up, Tavo,” said Angeline.

Tavo lifted his palms. “Alex is the most honest, trustworthy person I know,” he said. “The smartest. The person who has been holding Extreme together for years.”

He wasn’t wrong. She felt the same way about Alex. “So…he made a mistake,” she said.

Tavo stood and walked over to the blood spray on the window.

“Then, what happened here?”

Angeline shook her head, her voice failing her. It was freezing in the room, she noticed. She was cold to her bones.

Her phone pinged. Mav again.

Heeelllooo? Are you guys coming back?

“We need to call the police,” said Tavo.

“And say what?”

Tavo swept an arm around the room, his forehead wrinkled with concern,like she wasn’t thinking clearly. Maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she could never think clearly when it came to Maverick, like he had her under some kind of spell. Her mother’s words rang back to her:You’re someone different when you’re with him.

“That our CFO—our friend—ismissing. That there’s blood on the window and the floor. That the area rug isgone.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe they should call the police.

“He’s notmissing,” she said stubbornly.

“He’s not? Have you ever seen Alex without his phone in his hand? His laptop under his arm?”

“Maybe he went for a walk,” she suggested, desperately grasping at possibilities. “You know, to clear his head.”

Her phone again.

Okay. I’m coming to you.

“Mav’s on his way here,” she said.

She opened the PopMap and saw his icon driving in their direction. He was already halfway to the hotel. Lately, she had the sense that maybe he suspected that there was something between her and Tavo. Something about the way he watched them when they were together. But she’d dismissed it. Mav wasn’t subtle. He wasn’t one to harbor secret suspicions. He was prone to outbursts, tantrums, rage. She couldn’t think of single time when he’d kept a feeling to himself.

“Tell him not to,” said Tavo quickly. “Tell him we’re on our way back.”

We’re on our way back, she thumbed.

Stay put, came his quick reply.

Angeline didn’t bother to answer again. She knew better. Mav would do what he wanted. Always.

“He’s already on his way.”

But Tavo wasn’t listening. He was staring at something over by the door, moved in that direction. Angeline followed.

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