Page 99 of Dream a Little Dream

“Not yet.” Kenny stepped back, slumping against the counter opposite, everything pushing him down. He sighed. “Is there anything on your phone that will tie you to me? The off duty me.”

“Do you mean do I have a dear diary on there with hearts around your name? Or a calendar entry that says, ‘suck my professor’s dick’?”

Kenny waited. Then, “Yes.”

“No. Strangely, I’m a sort of private person.” Aaron could see the physical relief leaving Kenny’s shoulders. But there were still other pressing things to do with all of this. “They’ll know who I am by morning.”

“They already know who you are.”

“Cause you told them.”

“I didn’t tell them. Jack guessed. He’s a trained investigator.”

“And the one who took me from the cupboard.” Aaron ate his sandwich, lost in his thoughts, the humming tune ofDream a Little Dreamechoing around and around in his head. His mother’s last lullaby sung to him.

“Yes.”

Aaron nodded, sandwich at his lips, then pointed at Kenny. “You were there too.”

Kenny said nothing. But his rising chest was enough of an affirmative.

“Remember the hair.” Aaron waved around his head. “Never seen a bloke with long hair before.” He gnawed another bite from the sandwich, thoughts coming thick and fast. He furrowed his brow. “Were you and he fucking?”

Kenny drew in a breath. “Yes.”

Aaron nodded, smiling at his own intuition. “Still?”

“No. That ended a long time ago.”

“How come?”

“Long story.”

Aaron waggled the sandwich. “Like a story with my dinner.”

“Aaron, I know you’re doing this to avoid what’s happening here, but can we not?”

Aaron shrugged. Finished his sandwich. Wiped his hands down his jeans. He had to physically exert himself to lose the protective layer of detachment and give Kenny what he wanted. “I’m being framed.”

“It would seem that way.”

“Any theories on who?”

“Someone who knows who you are.”

“Which are you, Jervine, the UKPPS and now the police.”

“Someone else does.”

“Why do we think they know who I am? I mean, really? Cause they’re using Aaron. Is it because of the roses?”

Kenny stared at him. “What roses?”

Aaron spun the stool from side to side. It helped him focus. Or not focus. Allowed him to fidget and not feel overloaded. “Rahul had rose vines around his neck, right?”

Kenny seemed to rise an inch off the floor. “How do you know that?”

Aaron shrugged. “Common knowledge, innit?”

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