Page 27 of Rat

Sebastian hummed. “There’s a few. Pauly, he’s a killer. Killed two men, and Teddy…”

Rory widened his eyes. He rolled onto his side, searching Sebastian’s eyes. “What did Teddy do?”

Sebastian held up his hand, hiskilling hand, and held up four fingers. “Four.”

“Four?”

“Some say five, but that’s complicated, disputed even.”

“Why?”

Sebastian looked at him for a long moment. When it didn’t look like he would answer, Rory spoke again. “Doctor Pichard…he reacted strangely when I told him Ollie was sharing with Teddy.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing. He didn’t say anything, but he couldn’t meet my eyes.”

“There was an incident with Teddy’s cellmate. Some time ago now.”

“What incident?”

Sebastian sighed. “He committed suicide. Now some prisoners say that was down to Teddy, but I don’t believe it. All you need to know is he was charged with four.”

Rory’s gut sank. “Jesus… You said Ollie was safe with him.”

Sebastian frowned. “I didn’t quite say that, but they appear to be getting along. Besides, isn’t Ollie a killer too? I heard he stabbed his own father over twenty times with a kitchen knife.”

“You know nothing about him,” Rory defended.

“He still killed someone. My point is, you’re not scared of him or Teddy, but you are of me, especially when we’re alone. You’re all…jumpy.”

“Excuse my jumpiness, I was stabbed yesterday.”

Sebastian laughed. “And you think it was me?”

“I don’t know.”

“It wasn’t me,” Sebastian murmured, “If it was me, I would’ve—”

He slapped his hand to Rory’s lips, pushing him back down onto the mattress until he was staring up at the ceiling again with panicked eyes. Sebastian pretended to stab him with his other hand, curled into a fist, coming down on Rory’s stomach repeatedly but stopping before there was any contact. It reminded Rory of the shower scene inPsycho, but he didn’tscream or struggle, he froze, heart tripping, until Sebastian finally stepped back.

Rory panted for breath, not daring to move.

“My money is on Pauly,” Sebastian said in a calm voice as if he hadn’t just pinned Rory down and mimed repeatedly knifing him in his stomach.

“M…Money?” Rory uttered.

“Oh yeah,” Sebastian replied. “A few of the guys have been placing bets. Vince on the first floor thinks it was your buddy, Ollie.”

“Ollie wouldn’t do that.”

“He’s in here for stabbing a guy.” Sebastian shrugged. “How well do youactuallyknow him?”

Rory flared his nostrils. “It wasn’t Ollie, and I know him enough to know it wasn’t.”

“There’s your balls.” Sebastian chuckled. “I wondered where they’d gone.”

He sat down on his bed and groaned as he got comfortable.

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