Page 98 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

“Who are you?”

“As you said, Aaron Jones. Or, if you want the real name, Child A.” Aaron held out his arms in a display of himself. “That’s who you really want, right?”

“You’re not Child A.”

Aaron laughed. “I wish I wasn’t. But sadly, as my birth certificate will attest, I am a Howell. But you probably know that already. Cause you stole those files, didn’t you?”

“You can’t be Child A.”

“Why? Cause I look normal? Not all monsters are ugly.” He winced, then held out his hands in defence. “That wasn’t a dig, by the way. I like the scars. The rough look. Some people are justtoopretty, y’know?”

Peter’s jaw clenched, hands balling into fists at his side.

“Look, you want Child A, right? That’s who you’re looking for? That’s why you killed Carly Reynolds and ransacked her files.”

Peter’s eyes went rabid. “Yes, I want Child A.”

“Well, you found them.” Aaron pointed to his face and smiled. “So there’s no need to go kill a load of innocent blonde chicks.”

“Is this a prank?”

“No. Seriously. It’s not.” Aaron fished his student ID fromhis pocket and showed it up. “Aaron Jones. The name that was in that file, right?”

“Yes, but—”

“That’s me. Originally a Howell.”

Peter stared at him with a blank, unreadable expression. “The name in that file is wrong.”

Aaron tilted his head. “It isn’t.”

Peter inhaled sharply. “Do you have any idea what I want to do with Child A?”

“I’m guessing it ain’t to go for coffee.” Aaron pocketed his ID. “Which is fine. Can’t fucking stand the stuff. Could go for a tea, though. Have a chat?”

“I want tokillChild A.” Peter was calm, as if testing Aaron’s integrity. “Torturethem.” Then his eyes shifted, cold and callous and frightening. “Do everything to them their mother did tome!” He pounded his fist on his chest.

Aaron swallowed, seeing the transformation from an unassuming disfigured man to this and realised he was perhaps out of his depth. But he was here now. He’d got this far. If the Voice Memo had recorded at least some of Peter’s confession, then that was evidence enough to put him on the suspect list. To arrest him, hopefully. Twenty-four hours in police custody would give Jack and his team time to really search this place and wherever Peter called home. He just needed to keep him talking long enough for Kenny to hear the message and send in the cavalry.

“I totally get it,” Aaron said. “There’s probably a bunch of other men who want to yank my cock off, too. But it won’t make you feel better.”

“It will! Knowing I’ve done to her precious what she did to me!”

“Yeah, granted. Mum’ll be pissed. She’s psycho like that.” Aaron circled a finger around his head in a crazy pose. “She doesn’t like people messing with what’s hers. But she, too, is very good at getting revenge. Even behind bars. I’m going out on a limb to say she had my dad offed. So, why don’t we look at a different way of making you feel better?”

“I can see it now.” Peter edged closer.

“Seewhat?”

“The likeness.”

Aaron’s gut wrenched at that. He knew he looked like his mother. But to be compared to a psychopathic monster wasn’t a compliment, no matter how beautiful she was.

Peter was close to him now, and Aaron fell into the frosted glass partition. “You’re conceited. Vain. Too fucking pretty. Did they use you too?”

“Use me for what?”

“To lure innocent kids to her dungeon?”

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