Page 42 of Two for Joy

“No, I went upstairs, and his bedroom door was open—”

“You saw him and changed your mind.”

Romeo huffed. “You gonna let me finish or what?”

“Sorry, go on.”

“He was awake in bed, drowsy, but awake. He saw me, even asked if I was the boogie man,” Romeo smirked, remembering. “And I pointed at my face and said, “would the boogieman look this good?” I didn’t kill Trisha because her son saw me, he would’ve been able to describe me to the police, not a good start for my countdown.”

“How do I know you didn’t just make up that story in your cell.”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“A defense mechanism, you’re trying to push me away.”

Romeo knocked his head back and groaned at the ceiling. “I tell you what happened, and you don’t want to believe it.”

“Your whole life you’ve pushed people away after the way you were treated.”

“I had a great life. I’ve lied to you about all the bad stuff. My parents loved me, I had friends, a great job.”

“No, you’re in denial.”

“Jesus Christ, you are. Close your eyes and listen to the words coming out my mouth. I enjoy killing people. I feel nothing for them, or their families. I always felt the urge, the craving, but I didn’t do it while my parents were alive, didn’t want to destroy their image of a perfect son.”

“You must’ve cared about them?”

He had no desire to end the lives of his parents. They brought him into the world, looked after him, spoiled him, and unbeknownst to them, taught him to use his mask to manipulate.

“I didn’t want them to know about the monster, and they never found out.”

“If they were here now, how do you think they would’ve felt?”

“They would’ve tried to look for a reason, blamed it on something else, just how you’re doing.”

“You must care about something—someone.”

“The only person I care about is…”

Romeo caught himself just in time.

“Is?”

“Myself.”

Holly started to pack her things. “It’s obvious today’s not a good day for you.”

“This is the last time you’re gonna see me.”

Her lips popped open. “What?”

“I’m done with the visits.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“You’ve got what you need to write your feature article.”

“But you need me.”

---