Page 61 of Good Boys Don’t Bite

“You are.”

Elliot stepped backward.

“I'll get the acetone.”

“Elliot.”

He turned. Ronan caught his wrist. Elliot looked down. Then at him.

“I didn't mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did.”

“No.”

“You did.”

Ronan tightened his grip.

“I'm worried.”

“About me?”

“About everything.”

Elliot's expression shifted. Barely. Ronan continued.

“Mason gets murdered. Now another Bellweather guy disappears. People are freaking out. You were questioned. Your name is probably sitting in some detective's notebook somewhere. Yeah, I'm fucking worried.”

Elliot watched him.

“Why would my name matter?”

“Because you were at the party.”

“So were you worried Claire's name is in the notebook?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Claire didn't see Mason right before he died.”

Something passed through Elliot's face. Fast. Ronan almost missed it.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“There it is again.”

Elliot pulled his wrist free.

“You're paranoid.”

“Maybe.”

“You're letting the murder shit get in your head.”