Page 104 of Property of Bob

“Somebody is leaving bodies around your island. You almost died.” She tipped her head to the side. “My boss being pissed that I found out about him stealing is nothing.”

“Doesn’t make what happened to you disappear.”

She went quiet.

“You didn’t leave Iowa because you were bored,” I continued. “You left because somebody broke into your home twice, followed you, and fucked with your tire.”

“I know.”

“You came here because you were scared.”

Her lips pressed together.

I knew I was right. I leaned forward slightly. “I’m not ignoring that because we’ve got other shit happening.”

Her eyes stayed on mine. “You really meant it.”

“What?”

“When you said you’d help.”

“Of course I fucking meant it.” It didn’t matter what the club was going through. I was going to help Ramona and make sure she was safe.

A small smile touched her lips. “Thank you.” Ramona looked toward the haunted house. “So why is somebody doing this?”

“We don’t know.”

“You have no idea?”

“We’ve got pieces.”

“Like what?”

I rubbed my jaw. “Some of it points toward the club’s past. Before Anchor was president. Before most of us were even here.”

“The old Kings?”

“Yeah.”

“And you don’t know what happened?”

“No.”

“Does anyone?”

“That seems to be the fucking question.” There were so many fucking questions.

She thought about that. Then she asked, “What about Bernice?”

My eyes moved to hers. “Pretty sure Bernice knew it all. That’s why—” Everything inside me stopped.

For a second, I didn’t hear anything. Not the birds. Not the noise coming through the clubhouse door. Not Ramona.

Nothing.

Then something flashed through my head.

Blood. Bernice lying on the floor. My hand was pressed against my neck, and pain ripped across it. I closed my eyes.