Page 322 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

Elliot pulled on a shirt. They went downstairs. Rebecca stood outside carrying coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Elliot opened the door. She looked at his throat. Then Ronan’s bandaged arm. Then Elliot’s neck again. Her expression tightened.

“The bruises are from the intruder.”

Elliot said it immediately. Rebecca blinked.

“I didn’t ask.”

“You were thinking.”

Ronan coughed to cover a laugh. Rebecca looked at him. He became fascinated by the coffee. She entered. The kitchen still looked terrible. Her eyes moved over everything. Then the storageroom door. Elliot’s pulse changed. Ronan noticed. Tiny glance. Enough. Rebecca put breakfast on the counter.

“Your father is having cameras installed today.”

“Good,” Ronan said.

“Police approved the company.”

Even better. Rebecca looked at Elliot.

“Detective Vance wants you at the station this afternoon.”

His stomach tightened.

“Why?”

“She called me because apparently neither of you currently has a functioning phone.”

Ronan lifted a finger.

“Mine was murdered in the line of duty.”

Rebecca stared. Ronan lowered the finger.

“She wants to speak to both of you.”

“About Nathan?” Elliot asked.

“I assume.”

Ronan and Elliot looked at each other. Saint. The forum. Five names. The mask downstairs. Vance was pulling. Eventually something would come loose. Rebecca noticed the look.

“What?”

“Nothing,” they said together.

She closed her eyes.

“Wonderful.”

Ronan smiled. Elliot almost did. Then Rebecca looked directly at him.

“Can I speak to you alone?”

Ronan’s smile disappeared. Elliot’s stomach tightened.

“Sure.”

Ronan touched his lower back while passing. Small. Private. Elliot felt it long after Ronan disappeared upstairs. Rebecca waited until footsteps stopped. Then: