Page 35 of Deeper

Callen

I know better than to be here, but I couldn’t resist being in the middle of the circus act I orchestrated.

“It’s horrible, isn’t it? What’s wrong with people?” The elderly lady looks to me to voice her concern with society.

“Just awful. The person responsible must be a psychopath.” I move from the woman after my response.

Am I?

I didn’t used to think I was a psychopath, just heartless. I’m not so sure anymore.

They already took the body, my masterly crafted work of art, away in a coroner’s van. Even though the Yale campus is supposed to be blocked off, it’s full of activity, which means my art is still being whispered about.

Reporters flock around Harkness Tower.

Curious gawkers cling to one another.

The people of this town are worried about the safety of their kids. The alarm is unjust because I have no intention to kill anyone who is not on my list. They have nothing to fear unless their kids are the last three names I need to cross off. I wander through the masses and listen to the gossip. No one is the wiser that the man responsible for this crime walks among them. It gives me a sick satisfaction.

“Callen?”

I turn and find Rylan’s friend standing behind me with a camera hooked around her neck. “Yeah, hey.” I’m caught off guard by seeing someone who knows me.

She gives me a wide smile, displaying a straight row of brilliantly white teeth. She’s definitely cute but very odd.

“I’m Rylan’s friend, Tatum.”

I aimlessly nod at her, looking for an out. I shouldn’t be seen here. “Yeah, I remember you.” I’m inching away as I say the words, but Tatum just beams at me.

“What are you doing here? Do you go to school here?”

“Yale? No, I definitely don’t go to school here.”

Tatum narrows her eyes at me but doesn’t ask for clarification on what I am doing here.

“Okay, well, I’m here, taking photos for one of the papers I do freelance for.”

“Okay.”

“Okay? This whole thing is kind of crazy, right? Two recent murders here in town. People are saying there is a connection. The bodies both have numbers carved into their chests. Our small town could have a serial killer on the loose.”

Not a serial killer, just a hit man working his way through his list.

“Yeah. Listen, Tatum, I’m really not interested in striking up a conversation.”

“Oh, okay. Well then, I’ll see you around, I guess.”

I take off, away from the crowds of people and away from Rylan’s friend. I didn’t handle that very well, but I’m not used to having people know me by name in the towns I’m working in. Tatum probably thinks I’m completely incapable of normal conversation. Hopefully, that’s the only suspicion that awkward conversation brought about.

I hop into my truck and head back to my place.

Number Four is taken care of. I need to set my focus on Three and getting the job done.

Citizens, rest easy. This will all be over soon.

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