Page 109 of Vicious Deception

Oliver lets out a low whistle. “Good. The bastard deserves it.”

“He really killed Sammy?” Andrew asks. “How did it happen? You said she ran from school?”

Rhett sighs heavily. “Richard was never around, so I had to pick her up from school every day to make sure she got home safe. She slipped away one day, and as far as we can tell, she got lost on the way home.”

“I know I was just a kid, but . . . I’m sorry,” Andrew says quietly.

I think we’re all surprised to hear him say it. Elliot and Oliver exchange a glance while Rhett places a hand on Andrew’s shoulder.

“Thanks. I . . . I’m sorry, too.”

For the rest of the evening, we give Benny some space. We figure that when he’s ready to talk, he’ll come out of wherever he’s hiding—his room, probably. When I was younger, I used to be the same way. I just needed some space to process my feelings.

At some point, I get cold and head upstairs to grab a sweater. My bedroom door is closed, but I can see light shining through underneath it.

How odd.

Pushing it open, I peer inside. And there’s Benny, curled up in my reading chair with one of the books he’s borrowing.

“I know I shouldn’t be in here,” he blurts. “But I figured no one would look for me in your room. Please don’t be mad.”

“Fair enough.” I enter my room slowly, keeping my posture lax. It doesn’t look like he wants to leave, so at the very least, he doesn’t feel the need to hide from me. At the most, maybe he wants someone to talk to.

“I know Rhett wouldn’t lie to me,” he says, his voice just barely wobbling. “He’s a good person. Every time I think he’ll yell at me the way Dad does, he’s nice to me. He’s . . .” Benny frowns, a line appearing between his eyebrows as he tries to think of the right word.

“Patient?” I try.

“Yeah. Patient.” Benny fidgets with the book, tracing the spine anxiously. “And he’s tried to tell me the truth about everything. Or tell me he will eventually, which he did tonight.”

Lowering myself onto the edge of my bed, I give him a sympathetic smile. “He’s doing his best. This is all new to him, too.”

“I just don’t want to believe Mr. Axel would work for a killer.” Benny shakes his head. “I liked him.”

“For what it’s worth, I think Axel was one of Ludo’s prisoners, too. Not in the same way as the guys, but . . . well, I don’t think Axel likes Ludo, or even wanted to work for him.”

“Really?”

I nod.

“That helps some.” He flips through the pages, still avoiding my gaze. “Is Rhett mad at me?”

“No. He’s worried about you.”

“Should I . . . apologize?”

“Do you think you hurt him?”

Benny’s eyes widen. “Did I?”

“I’m not sure.” Resting my elbows on my knees, I lean forward. “My general rule of thumb is that if I’ve treated someone in a way that I wouldn’t like to be treated, then I should apologize to them. Well, unless I don’t like them, or I think they deserve however I treated them.”

“So I don’t have to apologize to Andrew anymore?”

“Ummm, well, that’s—”

Benny snickers, covering his mouth with his hand. “I’m joking.”

I let myself laugh. It’s been a while since I interacted with a kid this much. Sometimes it’s stressful, but overall, I like Benny.

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