Page 14 of Two for Joy

Paul smirked. “You never seen a beetle before?”

“Not for a long time.” Romeo said.

The beetle with its jet-black body. It’s perfectly symmetrical shape, not a blemish or a distinguishing feature that separated it from all the other beetles of its kind.

Romeo stepped on it.

“Why the hell did you do that?” Fred asked.

“I don’t know. I guess I had to.”

“You could’ve let it go free.”

Romeo shook his head. “No, I couldn’t have…”

The monster growled, a warning growl that said that wasn’t enough, nowhere near enough to keep him quiet. It would continue to gnaw at his mind until he did something about it.

Until he worked out how to escape.

****

Three days after Chad’s visit, there was still no murder being reported on the news. Romeo kept the TV on until he was threatened with its removal if he didn’t turn it off at night. Instead of smirking in Paul’s face, he listened, and switched it off. He couldn’t risk losing his TV privilege, especially when he knew something would eventually come up that would explain Chad’s mood.

“It’s 2:00.”

Romeo thought about not going to see Holly, but the alternative was staring into the corner of his cell and willing each slow second to pass. At least with Holly, the time went quickly.

The buttons of her shirt were open again, and the bra she wore held her breasts higher, making them bounce when she moved. Paul was transfixed each time she leaned to pick something off the floor. Romeo glanced back and caught him watching.

“Hello.” Holly said.

“Another meeting.”

“You said yes. I think you need to see me as much as I need to see you.”

“You need to see me?”

“Yeah.”

“For the article?”

Holly splayed her papers over her table. “Of course, the article.”

“I like the bra, looks expensive.”

She made an aborted attempt to cover herself. “You shouldn’t be looking.”

“I’m only human … well, part human.” He winked, and she averted her gaze, cheeks as red as ripe apples.

Paul muttered something under his breath, but Romeo didn’t quite catch it.

“What did you want to ask me today?” He said. “More about my neglectful parents, my tragic school life, or my over worked job history.”

“Relationships.”

“What a surprise.” Romeo mumbled. “As I’ve told you before, I’ve not been in a relationship.”

“Do your interests lie in men or women?”

---