Page 90 of Trigger

Fuck,it sounded bad when he said it like that.

“Iwasn’t pretending!” I defended myself. “I am your friend. I care about you.Besides, you’re not… You’re not even my type, man.”

Now hejust looked offended.

“Whatis your type, then?”

He wasmy type to a T, but ‘tall, dark, and brooding’ wasn’t the smart answer. Theopposite of that was the smart answer.

Ishrugged, avoiding his eyes. “Dunno. Someone… short and chubby. And ginger.”

Hefrowned, looking unconvinced.

“LikeShelly, for example,” I muttered. “I don’t know.”

Whenhe remained silent, I stepped toward him, lowering my hands.

“Inever lied to you, Dominic. I didn’t mention the bi thing because it never cameup, but if it did, I would tell you the truth.”

“Doyou swear?”

“Iswear.”

“So,everything is as I thought it was and it can stay that way, correct?”

God,how to answer that?

“Thingswon’t change unless you want them to,” I replied, glancing at the gun in hishand.

Hisforehead furrowed as he lowered his weapon.

“Whatis that supposed to mean?”

“Itmeans…” I rested my hands on my waist, shaking my head in frustration. “Itmeans what I said, Dominic.”

When Iheard footsteps behind me, I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or angryabout it.

“Sorry,guys,” Shelly squeaked, looking at Carter, then at me, and then at Carteragain. “They found another body.”

***

Roxanne“Roxie” Brokowich was a sex worker. She was found dead in her apartment, lyingon her stomach with her arms and legs spread wide, just like Sophie Malik. Thecrime scene was similar—the positioning of the body, the marks around herwrists and ankles, and the way she was strangled. The only thing missing wasthe rage. This crime scene felt cool, composed, and thought through. Also, itseemed that Roxie was raped, while Sophie was not.

“Noforced entry,” I said, circling the bed. “Whom would both a banker and a sexworker let into their apartment?”

“Agood liar,” Carter replied. “And probably a pretty man.”

“Whypretty?” John Smith asked, taking off his gloves.

“BecauseEd Gein would have more trouble convincing a woman to let him into herapartment than Ted Bundy,” I replied. “And if Roxie wasn’t choosy, I’m sureSophie was.”

“Iwant your reports tonight, John,” Carter said. “Not in the morning. Nottomorrow. We have to be sure these murders are linked.”

“Theyare,” I said once we were on our way to the station. “You know they are.”

Cartermade a face. “Yeah, well… I want to make sure.”

“Andif they are connected, are we talking about a…?” I paused, hesitating to sayit.

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