Page 126 of A Forgotten Mistake

“It was. I remember trying to smother you with a pillow, and Lisa was convinced we did the dirty when she went to talk to you the following morning.”

“She was so fucking weird. I’m glad I got out of that place. She didn’t like either of us. I think she was convinced we were both Satan’s spawn.”

“What about the guy who tried drugging you? You know his name?”

“Fuck if I know. Sorry. I was never good at keeping track of things. Hell, I couldn’t even keep track of my own life.”

“Yeah. I noticed,” I say. “I’ll call you back if I think you might be more useful. Likely not. You seem pretty useless.”

“Thanks, Liam.”

Ignoring her sarcasm, I reply, “You’re welcome.” I look up as the door opens and Gabriel comes in with a box and a bag, followed by Matthew.

“Cookies and burgers from your diner. I took Matthew there to show him what happens when you neglect a place. They’re nominated for awards and stuff. The place is booming.”

“Matthew… you can have that diner if you do one tiny thing for me.”

“Absolutely not,” Matthew says. “But I did get them to give us free food. And I plan to eat there for free for the rest of my life as compensation for the torture you’ve put me through.”

“I will make sure you’re banned,” I promise him.

He doesn’t seem to care or possibly thinks I’m not telling the truth.

“So what did you find?” Gabriel asks.

“The funniest thing,” I say as I start to play the video. “Look how dumb I looked in those clothes.”

Gabriel quickly looks over at me. “You think this is funny? A serial killer had their eyes set on you.”

“Hilarious, actually. I mean, it’s not like they ever went through with it or even tried.”

“Did your personality scare them off or something?” Matthew asks.

“Possibly,” I say.

“Do you remember this night?”

“I think so.”

“Can you tell us about it? Maybe something will jog your memory,” Gabriel suggests.

“Once I start telling Matthew stories, he’s going to begin thinking I need to tuck him in at night as well.”

“You are probably one of the last people I’d ever want to tuck me in at night. Your mere presence would cause me to have nightmares.”

I smile, pleased that he understands this. “Let’s see, it all started with me being perfect.”

“This is going to be awful and highly biased,” Matthew says before stuffing a huge bite of his sandwich into his mouth. “Damn, this is good. So glad I get to eat there for free for the rest of my life.”

Ignoring that, I start telling them about that night, of course leaving out all the little bits about offing Abby’s father and the threat I made her. I’ll tell those to Gabriel in private later.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Liam

Twenty-two years ago—age sixteen

“You really don’t have to watch me do my homework,” I say as Lisa stares at me like I’m a death row inmate that might make a break for it.

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