Page 116 of The Rat

“Oh, they don’ttake thoseanymore. That’s an old five-pound note.”

“It’s the money I had inmy pocket the day Iwas booked in.”

Rory flipped open his wallet andhanded Sebastian a new five-pound note.

He scrunched his face and rubbedit in his fingers. “It feels horrible.”

“It’s a bit odd atfirst.”

“Just fives?”

“Tens, too.”

“Never thought money wouldchange.”

Sebastian hummed, then turned back tothe woman. Rory snorted at his feet, he was buying lunch for theman about to kill him.

Sebastianpopped a chip in his mouth, thengroaned.

“That taste, that’s exactlyhow I remember it.”

The door dinged when theyleft, andSebastian walked down the stone steps to get to the beach. “Whattime is it now?”

“12:00.”

Sebastian nodded, then gesturedfor Rory tocome to him. “Let’s have a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Yeah.”

Rory joined him, andthey strolledside by side along the beach. Sebastian offered him a chip, but heshook his head, and looked away.

“Sebastian I—”

“Not yet.”

Rory pressed his lips together,catching his words. The wait was torture, but he imagined that wasSebastian’s point. He wanted Rory to suffer, to fill himwith so muchtension, and fear he wouldn’t fight or run when the momentcame.

“Can we stophere…”

Sebastian pointed his chip ahead. “Notyet.”

“I can’t take it, just doit.”

Sebastian sighed. “Overthere.”

“Please,” Rory said, steppingcloser. He smacked the chip from Sebastian’s fingers, then grabbed his hand andheld it to his throat. “Go on.”

Sebastian glared, but the look wasn’tintimidating, or like ice, it was full on horror. Rory closed hiseyes and pushed Sebastian’s hand into his throat.

“Do it.”

He jolted when he heard a dullthump on the pebbles, the chips hitting them.

“I can’t wait anymore, I can’thave this dragged out. Do it.”

“Do what?”

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