Chapter Eighteen — Tell Me You Didn’t #2
Ronan moved closer.
“How bad?” he asked.
Vance paused.
“He’s conscious. Ambulance is transporting him now.”
“What happened?”
“We’re still determining that.”
Elliot closed his eyes. Alive. That changed everything. Not because Dylan mattered to him. Because living people talked.
“What did he say?”
Another pause.
“Not much.”
“Did he see who took him?”
“We’ll speak with him when doctors clear it.”
Ronan reached for the phone. Elliot switched to speaker.
“Can we see him?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because right now both of you need to remain away from him.”
Ronan’s jaw tightened.
“He’s my friend.”
“And you’re connected to an active investigation.”
“So is half Bellweather.”
Vance ignored him. Elliot asked, “Why did you know North Ridge?” Silence. There. Again. Vance sighed.
“Because Mason Kerr’s car was recorded near the access road three times in the month before his death.”
Elliot froze. Ronan looked at him.
“What?”
Vance continued.
“Lucas Harper’s vehicle was also recorded there.”
“When?” Elliot asked.
“Several times.”
“Together?”
“We don’t know.”
“Dylan?”
“His vehicle has not appeared in the same records.”
Ronan frowned.
“So Mason and Lucas were meeting someone there.”
“Possibly.”
“Who?”
“We don’t know.”
Elliot hated that answer now too. Vance said, “There’s more.” Neither spoke.
“We recovered several personal items in a structure approximately half a mile from where Dylan was located.”
Cold moved through Elliot.
“What structure?”
“Old hunting cabin.”
Ronan asked, “Items belonging to who?”
“Mason.”
Elliot stopped.
“Lucas.”
His heartbeat quickened.
“And other individuals.”
Other people. The victims. Videos. Humiliation. Blackmail. Ronan looked at Elliot. Elliot knew exactly what he was thinking. The theory Elliot had fed him. Someone Mason and Lucas hurt. Revenge. Vance continued.
“The cabin appears to have been used before either homicide.”
“For what?” Ronan asked.
“We don’t know yet.”
Elliot felt irritation flash.
“Yes, you do.”
Vance went quiet.
“What did you find?”
“Recording equipment.”
The room became very still.
“Cameras?”
“Yes.”
“Computers?”
“Yes.”
“Videos?”
Pause.
“Yes.”
Ronan swore. Elliot’s stomach tightened.
There it was. Mason and Lucas. The ugly little system beneath the public personalities.
Maybe North Ridge wasn't random. Maybe whoever had sent the coordinates wanted police to find that. Or wanted Ronan to find it. Why? Vance said, “Some material appears to involve students who may not have known they were being recorded.” Ronan’s face hardened.
“Jesus.”
Elliot felt nothing resembling surprise. Only confirmation. Vance continued.
“Dylan was found outside the cabin.”
“Was he recorded?” Elliot asked.
“We don’t know.”
“Was he restrained?”
Pause.
“Yes.”
Ronan’s body stiffened.
“How?”
“I’m not discussing details.”
“Was he tortured?”
“Ronan.”
“Answer.”
“I said he’s alive.”
“That wasn't the question.”
Silence. Then Vance said, “He has injuries consistent with assault.” Ronan turned away.
Elliot watched him. Something inside him shifted.
Anger. Not jealousy. Not possession. Something cleaner.
Whoever had done this had hurt Ronan by hurting Dylan.
That alone made them a problem. Interesting.
Elliot almost hated himself for the thought.
Almost. Vance said, “There’s one more reason I called. ” Elliot’s attention returned.
“What?”
“We recovered a mask.”
Silence. Everything stopped. Ronan looked at Elliot. Elliot forgot to breathe. Vance continued.
“White porcelain. Cracked.”
The room seemed to tilt. No. Impossible. The mask was downstairs. Storage room. Black container. Unless— Elliot’s pulse slammed.
“What?”
Ronan whispered. Elliot didn't answer. Vance asked, “Elliot?” He forced himself to speak.
“Yes.”
“Does that description mean something to you?”
Ronan’s gaze burned into the side of his face. Elliot swallowed.
“It sounds like the one from the footage.”
“Correct.”
“Was it the same?”
“We’re testing it.”
Elliot’s mind raced. His mask was in the storage room. It had to be. He hadn't checked since— When? The black box. Someone had been inside. Fuck. He moved. Ronan caught his arm.
“Where are you going?”
“Storage room.”
Everything changed in Ronan’s face. Vance heard.
“What’s in the storage room?”
Elliot stopped. Too late. Ronan stared.
“Elliot.”
Vance’s voice sharpened.
“Do not enter that room.”
He looked toward the narrow door beneath the stairs. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. Ronan looked between him and the door.
“What the fuck is in there?”
Elliot couldn't answer. Not safely. Not anymore.
“Elliot.”
Ronan’s voice cracked through him.
“Tell me.”
Vance was still on the phone. Listening. Police outside. Mask at North Ridge. Mask downstairs. Maybe. Elliot’s entire system of compartments began collapsing at once.
“Tell me you didn't,” Ronan whispered.
Elliot looked at him. The sentence barely made sense.
“Didn't what?”
Ronan stared toward the storage room. Then back.
“You know exactly what.”
Elliot felt something inside him go cold. Not fear. Decision. There were moments when lying preserved everything. There were moments when lying only delayed the inevitable. He didn't know which this was yet. So he said nothing. Ronan’s face changed.
“Fuck.”
“No.”
“Tell me.”
“Ronan.”
“Tell me you didn't put a fucking mask in our house.”
Elliot swallowed. Silence. Vance’s voice came through the speaker.
“Ronan, step away from the storage-room door.”
Neither moved. Ronan stared at Elliot.
“Tell me you didn’t.”
Elliot opened his mouth. Nothing came. And Ronan finally understood that silence could be an answer.