Page 148 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot looked away. Ronan knew he'd won. Or cornered him. Different.

“Tomorrow,” Elliot said.

“What?”

“I'll tell her tomorrow.”

Ronan exhaled.

“Thank you.”

“Don't.”

“Don't what?”

“Act relieved.”

“I am relieved.”

“That you're forcing me to break someone's confidence?”

“That you're not secretly joining a murder cult.”

Elliot stared. Then laughed. Small. Real. Ronan smiled.

“There's my psychopath.”

The word left automatically. Elliot's smile vanished. Ronan noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Elliot.”

He looked over.

“Don't call me that.”

The seriousness surprised him. Ronan nodded.

“Okay.”

No joke. No teasing. Just okay. Something in Elliot softened. Ronan leaned back. For the first time all day, the pressure behind his ribs eased slightly. He had an explanation now. Not a complete one. But something. Elliot had been looking into the victims. That explained the maps. The articles. The questions. The secret meeting. Maybe even the lies. Ronan wanted to believe that was enough. His phone vibrated. Dylan. Of course. Ronan opened it.

DYLAN: weird question

Then:

DYLAN: did elliot ever know lucas better than he says?

Ronan stared. Elliot noticed.

“What?”

Ronan didn't answer. Another message arrived.

DYLAN: lucas mentioned him once