Page 98 of Requiem

I think that may be the first time I’ve ever heard Tony use Julia’s name. He’s called her ‘Red’ since we were kids. I find it more than a little unsettling.

“Tony, where are you? Can you get to her? We’re just getting on the expressway …”

“Yeah, yeah, of course. I’ll drop everything. You didn’t call the police did you?”

“No,” I assure him.

“Good. No telling what that fucker’ll do if he feels backed into a corner. He’d kill her right in front of them just to stick it to you …” he stops, abruptly, realizing I might not want to hear this. “It’ll be okay, Matt. I’m at my place in Lido Beach.”

“Dammit,” I murmur. “You’re not much closer than we are …”

“No. Don’t worry about that. I know all the shortcuts. I’ll be out the door in less than five minutes and I’ll check in with you from the road.”

“Alright,” I say, the relief evident in my voice.

“Matt?”

“Yeah?”

“No matter what, you wait for me to get there. You hear me? No matter what, you do not go into that house without me.”

“Why? That’s crazy. If I get there first …”

“If you get there first, he’ll kill her just so you can watch her die, Matthew.”

Once he says it, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s the truth.