Page 420 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“Three alive.” “Yes.” “They found one.” Elliot froze. “What?” Ronan leaned back. “Not Saint.” “I know. Who?” “Vance called me last night.” “Why you?” “Because apparently I’m now part of every fucking investigation.” “Sorry.” “Not your fault.” Elliot gave him a look. “Mostly not your fault.” “Better.” Ronan continued. “The project’s name is Caleb Ward.” No recognition. Elliot frowned. “Who is he?” “Thirty.” “Location?” “Baltimore.” “Saint contacted him?” “According to Vance.” “When?” “Four years ago.” Before Nathan. Elliot went still. “So Nathan wasn’t first.” “No.” “How did they find Caleb?” “Nathan had an old username.” “Alive?” “Yes.” “Criminal?” Ronan looked at him. “That’s where it gets weird.” Elliot almost smiled. “This gets weird now?” “Shut up.” Ronan leaned forward. “Caleb never killed anyone.” Elliot’s expression changed. “What?” “He apparently got close.” “How close?” “I don’t know.” Elliot stared. Ronan caught himself. “Yeah, yeah.” “Everyone’s favorite answer.” “But he stopped talking to Saint.” “When?” “Before whatever Saint wanted him to do.” Elliot’s eyes sharpened. “And?” “He disappeared for six months.” “Saint took him.” “Maybe.” “Where was he?” “Hospital.” Elliot frowned. “Why?” Ronan hesitated. This part bothered him. “He tried to kill himself.” Silence. Elliot looked down. Ronan continued carefully. “Vance said Saint apparently spent months convincing Caleb that everybody he loved would eventually discover what he really was.” Elliot stopped moving. There. Ronan had known that line would hit. “He isolated him.” “Yes.” “Then pushed him toward violence.” “Apparently.” “Against who?” “His brother.” Elliot looked up sharply. Ronan nodded. “Yeah.” “Did he?” “No.” “How did it end?” “Caleb told his brother everything.” Silence. Ronan watched Elliot process it. “He confessed before doing anything.” “Yes.” “Then Saint—” “Disappeared.” Elliot leaned back. Interesting. Very. “Saint hates confession.” Ronan nodded. “That’s what I thought.” “Because secrecy is leverage.” “Yes.” “No secrets, no control.” “Exactly.” Something changed in Elliot. Not relief. Understanding. His confession had not simply been moral. It had harmed Saint. That mattered. Ronan could see it. “Don’t start enjoying yourself.” Elliot almost smiled. “I’m not.” “Your face.” “My face is innocent.” “Sure.” Then Elliot frowned. “Caleb’s brother.” “What about him?” “Still alive?” “Yes.” “Still with Caleb?” Ronan understood what he was really asking. “Yeah.” Elliot looked down. “They still talk.” “Yes.” “How much?” “I don’t know.” Elliot looked up. Ronan sighed. “Vance didn’t give me their fucking holiday schedule.” A smile. Tiny. Then: “But he stayed.” There. Ronan’s chest tightened. “Yes.” “After Caleb told him.” “Yes.” Elliot stared at the table. Ronan waited.

“He didn’t kill anyone.”

“No.”

“That’s different.”

“Yes.”

“But Saint thought Caleb would.”

“Apparently.”

Elliot looked at him.

“And his brother still stayed.”

“Yes.”

Ronan understood. Not comparison. Possibility. Proof that Saint’s entire philosophy was wrong. Truth did not always destroy love. Sometimes secrecy did more damage. Elliot swallowed.

“Why did Vance tell you?”

“She wants me to talk to Caleb.”

“No.”

Ronan stared. There it was. Same old Elliot.

“No?”

“No.”

“You are literally locked inside a county facility and still trying to control my schedule.”

“Yes.”

Ronan almost laughed.

“Why?”

“Because Saint knows Caleb.”

“So?”

“And Saint knows you.”

“Yes.”

“If you connect, Saint notices.”

“Probably.”

“No.”

Ronan leaned back.

“You realize saying no isn't legally binding.”