Page 36 of Stoker's Serenity

“Yeah, it’s me.” He gave a gusty sigh and asked, “So you want the spoilers or not?” he asked.

“I want to hear it from her, but I need to know what the fuck is going on to be able to do anything at the same time.”

“Now you’re learning,” he said and grunted. “Your stray has more than a little bit of trauma in her past, I reckon.”

“How’s that?” I demanded.

“Well, according to the douchebag on the beach, once upon a time her boyfriend was that Kyle Ian Covington kid.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?” I frowned, scouring my memory for it.

“He’s the one that shot up that Lauderdale high school about nine years back.”

“Oh, shit…”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re trying to tell me Serenity was in on it?” I asked, skeptical as all hell.

“Now, I didn’t say that. You know how it is with these fuckin’ citizens – hell, with anybody. Guilt by association and all that. Radar’s already digging into the whole thing and says that the pigs investigated your girl, but that they let her go. Insufficient evidence to suggest she knew about her boyfriend’s plot.”

“Shit. Was she there?” I asked. “The day of the shooting?”

“Yeah, but that is her story to tell, we can’t know what went on… I just suggest you tread carefully, my friend.”

“What did that dude call her?” I asked. “I missed it.”

“Murder Whore.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, these merry band of idiots sure know how to pick ‘em when it comes to taunts and the like.”

“Some pretty unoriginal shit,” I agreed.

“Well, listen, you drive careful and we’ll see you when we see you. You stay in touch.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

“Talk with you later.”

He ended the call and I let out a pent-up breath full of frustration at the sheer mountain of garbage in front of me.

Humans were the worst.

I parked on the street outside Serenity’s place, grabbed my duffle off the seat next to me, and locked up my truck. Linny was stretching outside Ren’s car, her hands pressed to her lower back to ease the stiffness.

“She alright?” I called softly.

“Out like a light.”

“Mind taking this and getting her place opened up?” I asked.

“Sure.” She took my bag and raised an eyebrow. “Plan on staying a while?”

“As long as it takes,” I assured her.

“Uh-huh…” She sounded skeptical.

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