Page 110 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

"We know."

Mason stood. He didn't stretch. Didn't bounce. Didn't shake out his arms. He simply climbed into the ring. Watching Mason fight was always unsettling. There wasn't any wasted movement. No showmanship. No aggression. No anger. Just mathematics.

Derek circled. Feinted. Jab. Cross. Hook. Mason barely reacted. He simply wasn't where the punches landed. Half an inch. Every time. Like he'd already seen them coming.

"You gonna hit me?" Derek puffed.

"No."

"No?"

"You'll walk into it."

"I won't."

"You will."

Derek threw another combination. Mason stepped inside the final hook, caught Derek's wrist, turned his hips, and let gravity do the rest.

Derek left the ground completely before slamming onto the canvas with a loud whump.

The ring shook. Silence. Derek blinked at the ceiling.

"I walked into it."

"You did."

"I hate it when you're right."

Mason climbed back through the ropes before Derek had even sat up. Fight over. Fuck Forty seconds. An hour later, the gloves lay abandoned across the bench. Three paper cups of coffee were steamed beside us. Derek sat on the edge of the ring rubbing fresh bruises into his ribs.

"I'm getting too old for this."

"You've said that since twenty-seven."

"I meant it then too."

I leaned against the cold stone wall, sweat still dripping from my jaw onto the concrete. The adrenaline had finally burned itself out. Leaving only the case. Always the damn case. Mason folded his arms.

"Walker's hiding something."

Neither of us answered immediately. Because we'd all been thinking about it.

"He shut that lead down too quickly," Mason continued.

"The flatbed?" Derek asked.

"The tracks."

"He didn't even look."

"He didn't want to."

Silence settled again. I stared into my coffee.

"It's everything. The timing. The questions. The way he watches people when they aren't looking. He feels...wrong."

Mason gave a slow nod. The gym fell quiet. No jokes. No punches. Just three tired men sitting with thoughts none of us liked. Derek finally broke the silence.