Chapter Fourteen — Someone Is Watching #2
“Apparently he learns.”
Elliot glared. Vance took the phone without commenting. She studied the photograph. Zoomed. Moved back. Read the message.
“Did you respond?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She handed it back.
“Do you recognize where this was taken from?”
Elliot looked at the photograph again. “Across the street from Dylan's building.” “You've been there?” “Yes.” Ronan turned.
Elliot didn't look at him. Vance noticed.
“When?” “Last semester.” “With Ronan?” “No.” Ronan stared.
“What?” Elliot sighed. “Not now.” Vance's attention sharpened.
“Why were you there?” “A party.” “Whose?” “Dylan's.” Ronan felt something ugly move through his chest. “You went to Dylan's apartment?” Elliot looked at him.
“Once.” “When?” “Before you and I were together.” “That isn't what I asked.” Vance glanced between them.
Ronan immediately hated that they were doing this in front of her.
Elliot knew it too. “Last February.” “Did you know I'd slept with him?” “Yes.” Ronan stopped.
Vance's expression didn't change. Of course it didn't. Elliot looked toward the floor.
Ronan laughed once. “Fantastic.” “Ronan.” “No, this is great. Another thing.” “Can we not?” “You've known him longer than you said.” “I knew who he was.” “You went to his fucking apartment.” “With Claire and twenty other people.” Vance interrupted.
“Claire was there?” Elliot looked at her.
“Yes.” “Lucas?” “No.” “Mason?” “No.” “Certain?” “Yes.” “Did anything happen between you and Dylan?” “No.” “Argument?” “No.” “Threat?” “No.” Ronan almost said something.
Stopped. Vance noticed that too. Her eyes shifted.
“Ronan?” Fuck. He looked at Elliot. Elliot's expression had gone warningstill.
Vance waited. Ronan exhaled. “Not that night.” Elliot closed his eyes.
Vance asked, “Another time?” “Months later.” “What happened?” “You already know.” “The threat about his fingers?” “Yes.” Vance looked at Elliot.
“And now someone is photographing Dylan and sending the photographs to you.” “I can see how that looks.” “Can you?” Elliot's jaw tightened.
“Yes.” “Did you ask anyone to watch Dylan?” “No.” “Follow him?” “No.” “Photograph him?” “No.” “Scare him?” “No.” “Have you ever told anyone you wanted Dylan hurt?” Silence.
Ronan felt it immediately. Elliot looked away. “Elliot.”
Vance said his name quietly.
“Have you?”
“Not seriously.”
Ronan's stomach dropped. Vance's pen came out.
“What did you say?”
“I don't remember.”
“Try.”
“I say shit when I'm angry.”
“About Dylan?”
“Yes.”
“Such as?”
Elliot folded his arms.
“I don't know.”
Ronan remembered. Of course he fucking remembered.
Elliot in Ronan's bed months earlier after learning about Dylan.
Furious. Jealous. Beautiful and vicious.
I hope somebody breaks his fucking jaw. Ronan had laughed.
Because it was Elliot. Because Elliot said terrible things when jealous.
Because words weren't murder. Vance looked at Ronan.
“You remember something.”
Elliot looked at him too. Ronan hated this.
“He said he hoped someone broke Dylan's jaw.”
Elliot's face hardened.
“When?” Vance asked.
“Months ago.”
“Before Mason Kerr died?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else present?”
“No.”
“Any other threats?”
Ronan shook his head.
“Not that I remember.”
Elliot laughed quietly. Vance looked toward him.
“Something funny?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Nothing.”
Ronan closed his eyes. Vance ignored it.
“I want both of you to avoid Dylan for now.”
Ronan frowned.
“Why?”
“Because somebody is watching him.” “Exactly why I should check on him.” “No.” The answer was immediate.
Ronan stared. Vance continued. “If this message is intended to provoke Elliot, contact between either of you and Dylan could escalate whoever sent it.” Elliot asked, “You think whoever sent this killed Mason and Lucas?” “I think assumptions are dangerous.” “That isn't an answer.” “No.” Elliot's eyes narrowed.
Vance looked toward the closed blinds. “Keep these shut tonight.” Ronan's stomach tightened.
“Do you actually think someone's watching the house?” “I think somebody wants Elliot to believe he's being watched.” She looked at Elliot.
“That can be just as dangerous.” Then she left.
Ronan locked the door behind her. When he turned, Elliot was already walking toward the stairs.
“No.” Elliot stopped. Ronan leaned against the door.
“We're not doing that.” “Doing what?” “You disappearing upstairs because you're pissed.” “I'm tired.” “You're angry.” “I can be both.” “At me.” “Yes.” There.
At least it was honest. Ronan nodded. “Because I told her about the jaw thing.” “Among other things.” “What was I supposed to do?” “Forget it.” “She was looking directly at me.” “So?” “So I'm not lying to homicide detectives because you said something stupid months ago.” Elliot laughed.
“Right.” “Don't.” “You really like that line.”
“What line?”
“I'm not lying for you.”
Ronan went still. Elliot continued.
“Every time something matters, that's where you land.”
“Because you keep hiding things.”
“I didn't ask you to hide that.”
“You didn't have to.”
Elliot stared at him. Ronan felt anger building. Not at Elliot. At everything. The police. The messages. Dylan. The fucking mask. The rumors. This house. Himself.
“You know what?” Ronan said. “Maybe stop saying shit about hurting people.”
Elliot's expression changed.
“Fuck you.”
“No. Seriously.”
“Fuck you.”
“You threaten Dylan, then somebody starts stalking him. You threatened Lucas with exposure. You threaten people who touch me. At some point, maybe recognize how that looks.”
Elliot stepped backward. Ronan immediately knew he'd crossed something. Again.
“I'm not saying you did anything.”
“You don't need to.”
“Elliot.”
“You've gotten really good at that.”
“What?”
“Making me guilty without saying the word.”
“That isn't what I'm doing.”
“You told Vance.”
“I told her the truth.”
“Congratulations.”
Elliot turned. Ronan didn't touch him this time. He let him take two steps. Then said, “Aaron.” Elliot stopped. Ronan swallowed.
“You want to know something fucked up?”
Elliot looked back.
“If Aaron grabbed you again tomorrow, I'd hit him again.”
Silence.
“I know.”
“I wouldn't think about it.”
Ronan stepped closer.
“I'd see his hand on you and I'd fucking do it again.”
Elliot's anger shifted. Ronan continued.
“So I understand saying shit when you're angry. I understand wanting someone hurt because they touched somebody you love.”
Elliot swallowed.
“That doesn't make you a murderer.”
His eyes dropped.
“It makes me look like one.”
“Maybe.”
Elliot looked up sharply. Ronan almost smiled.
“Sorry.”
“Asshole.”
“Yeah.”
The tension loosened by a fraction. Ronan's phone vibrated. Both froze. He pulled it out. Dylan. A photograph. Ronan opened it. His stomach dropped. Dylan's apartment door. A white envelope had been taped to the center. One word was written across the front in black ink.
RONAN
Elliot moved beside him.
“What the fuck?”
Another message arrived.
DYLAN: tell me this isn't from you
Then:
DYLAN: cops are coming