“Do you think the file on my grandmother is in there? Maybe the autopsy report?”
“I saw inside once when he had it open and didn’t know I was home. There’s a lot of old files in there. I don’t know if it relates to you or your grandmother, but it’s worth a look.”
“Absolutely,” I said. “I could come with you tonight. Help.”
Cairo smirked. “Don’t know if I trust you around my old man.”
“I’m not going to kill him,” I snapped.
“Took a long time to say that, and you only did now that you want something.”
I grabbed hold of my temper, reminded it he was risking a lot to help me, and shoved it back down. “Cairo, please. Gran was... everything to me. She was there when Ivy and I had no one. She raised us to be strong and never give up, and in two years and so much pain, I haven’t. I won’t sit on my ass either. I need to be a part of this.”
He gave me a long, unreadable look. I didn’t know what he would say, but I was willing to fight if I didn’t like it.
“Fair enough. I won’t sideline you.”
My tension ebbed out.
“I’ll let you in after he’s in bed. You leave before he wakes up. No arguments. Agreed?”
“Yes.”
Cairo flipped me over, pulling a squeal from me. My pants and underwear were shortly around my ankles. A soft sigh escaped as two fingers slipped in.
“Where’d you get the money to pay Gold?”
At some point it was decided interrogations would come with orgasms. I was not mad about this.
“Jeremy. I pitched his car in the pool and got six thousand off him. A thousand for Gold and five for the new autopsy.”
He paused a second, then resumed his task. “When’s it happening?”
“Won’t be soon. I have to get a license and arrange transport. Plus find an examiner I can trust. Still, I have the money now. Some paperwork and a car is nothing to how helpless I was trying to raise that kind of money.”
“You might have heard Jacques has an in with a judge. Let him know if he can help speed up the process.”
“I will,” I said, sneaking a hand under his shirt. “I looked up Craig Brown. He goes to Bedlam U and he’s on the football team. Tomorrow I’m going to ask him what he knows about Cavendish and Blake Jensen. Want to come?”
“Divide and conquer. You got four names. You meet Craig Brown in a public place. Jacques, Arsenio, and I will get the others. Roan and Legend will look up their files.”
“Okay— Ah.” I spread my legs for easy access. “We’re close, Cairo. I can feel it. The Letter Man is out of time.”
THE NEXT MORNING, THERE was a black letter in our mailbox.
Legend saw me through the window. Footsteps pounded the floor, then he was there. He tugged me inside, slammed and locked the door. We were both quiet as I opened it.
Hey, Angel.
I said a lot of things in my last letter. What can I say? You betraying me got me a little heated. I was all set to put Paris Keller in this letter. Order you to kill her peacefully, or I’d do it slow.
Choking, I shot up to Legend—eyes huge in horror.
“Keep reading,” he said gravely.
Then the Crows jumped you.
I admit, I was still fucking angry, but now it wasn’t at you.
No one gets to hurt you but me. This is our show, and I don’t like improv. Though, I was impressed with the lengths the Bedlam Boys went through to protect your honor. The punishment fit the crime, and although I couldn’t allow the Crows to leave Bedlam just yet, I decided the Bedlam Boys deserve a gift and you forgiveness for your error in judgment.
Wednesday morning at eight a.m., stand on the third step outside Bedlam Hall, looking out over Homer Green.
If you’re there, I’ll know you’re ready to put Verlice and Hope behind us, and start over. If not, gifts can always be returned.
Stay psycho.
Love ya, XOXO
Legend broke the silence. “What are you going to do?”
“What would you do?”
He looked me in the eye. “I’d be there Wednesday morning at eight a.m. Homer Green is swarmed by that time. You’ll be surrounded by people—one of them me. This doesn’t say you have to stand there alone.”
“Legend, this guy’s idea of a thank-you is—” Laying me on an unmarked grave surrounded by flowers.
“Is what?”
“Psychotic,” I finished. “Whatever this gift is, the only one who’ll like it is him.”
“He told you what the alternative is.”
I slumped against the door. “I know. He would’ve ordered me to kill Paris. Who is this guy?!” I burst out. “What does he want from me? Why won’t he say? At least Cavendish was clear from the beginning. It was him or Jennifer. This guy’s gonna dangle me on his hook till either one of us is dead!”