Page 57 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

Taylor inclined closer to the camera, his expression earnest but piercing. “This is Taylor Long, reporting on behalf of newseditor Carly Reynolds for theRyston Gazette. Don’t forget to hit like and subscribe for updates.”

The video ended.

Kenny rolled back in his chair, hand clasped tightly over his mouth, as he stared at the screen, the echo of Taylor’s words ringing in his ears. With a trembling hand, he checked the video’s stats. Views: hundreds of thousands. Comments: pouring in at an alarming rate. It was already viral, and soon, it would hit millions. The damage was done.

The sharp trill of his office phone jolted him. He snatched it up without thinking, barely registering the caller’s voice before the words hit him.

“Dr Lyons, this isThe Sun.Do you have a comment—”

He slammed the phone down, pulse hammering in his ears.

Then his mobile vibrated in his blazer pocket. He pulled it out, ready to switch it off, when the name flashing on the screen caught his attention.Jack.

He answered, voice tight. “You’ve seen it?”

“Yeah,” Jack said, his tone grim. “I take it you have, too?”

“Just now. What the fuck?” Kenny cracked under the panic. He caught movement outside his office—the startled glance of Gail from her desk—and forced himself to stand, marching to the door and closing it with a loud click. He yanked down the blind, then leant against the door bracing for the impact. “How thefuckdid this happen?”

“I was hoping you’d tell me.”

“Me?!” Kenny ripped off his glasses and hurled them onto his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose. “How thehelldid the information on Child A get leaked? It’s classified! Never known to the press.”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Who evenisthis Taylor Long?”

Kenny closed his eyes at the realisation. “Aaron’s boyfriend—exboyfriend.”

“Oh, Jesus. Guess we now know how the press got it.”

“Aaron hasn’t told him who he is.Wouldn’ttell him.” Kenny tried not to sound as if he were convincing himself. “The prick isn’t even a proper journalist!”

“TikTok doesn’t care about that. Neither does the world. This story’s out there. You know whatthatmeans?”

“This could fall on Aaron.”

“Is thatallyou care about?”

“What else should I care about?” Kenny straightened from the door, blood boiling.

“Three people are dead. We’re no closer to finding a suspect. And the whole town—and beyond—is about to point its finger at your dirty little secret!”

Kenny froze, the words slamming into him like a physical blow. “Is that why you called? To gloat? Tell me I deserve this? Call karma.”

“I called to warn you,” Jack shot back. “Because believe it or not,Kenny, I still care about you. And I’m telling you, for your own good. Stay away from him.”

Kenny gritted his teeth. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

“Christ.” Jack sounded almost wounded. “Then you’ll go down with him.”

Kenny closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to steady the turbulence raging inside him. “Believe it or not, Jack, I still trust you. I know you. And I know you won’t let an innocent young man take the fall for something he didn’t do. You’ll do what’s right. Like you always do. You’re the moral one, remember? The good one out of both of us.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the silence heavy and taut. When Jack spoke again, his voice was quieter but no less cutting. “Then if Aaron hasn’t told him, you’d better find out who did.”

“Howcouldhe leak it? Aaron’s not even Child A.”

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