Page 103 of Kill Your Darlings

I’d had time to shower, shave, dress, and consider burningI Know What You Didin the living room fireplace before I heard the electronic lock.

I couldn’t read Finn’s expression when he walked in, but he was good at concealing his feelings.

“Was he murdered?”I asked.

He grimaced.“They’re not confirming or denying, but I got a glimpse of Colby when they dragged him out.There’s a lot of bruising around his neck.”

“Jesus.I don’t understand.”I leaned forward in my chair, carding my damp hair with my fingers.“Does this make sense to you?”

“No.It doesn’t make any sense.You’ve been the target from the beginning.So why is Colby dead?”

I appreciated the importance of the question, although, frankly, I couldn’t help being glad not to be the one floating in the swimming pool.

I studied his face.“Are we still going to see Judge Baldwin?”

“No.”At my expression, he said, “I don’t think you’re under exceptional scrutiny, but you found the body and you did admit to some level of acquaintance with the victim, so you’ve attracted their attention.The last thing we want to do is point them in a direction potentially dangerous to you.”

I closed my eyes.“Right.”

“The best thing to do is carry on as normal.”

What the hell was normal?

I opened my eyes.“Do you think I should destroy the manuscript?”

“No.”Finn was definite.“We don’t know how many people have knowledge of that manuscript.We don’t know who, besides Rachel Ving, saw Colby hand it to you or whether that exchange showed up on a security camera.We don’t know how many copies are floating around out there or what records he kept.If it’s discovered that you destroyed your copy of the manuscript, it will be viewed as an admission of guilt.Whereas treating it like any other submission you planned on rejecting, looks innocent.”

I thought about that, and said, “What if I mark up the manuscript as if I’d actually edited it?”

Finn stared at me and then laughed.“You know what, that’s fucking brilliant.Yes.You do that while I jump in the shower.

While Finn showered, whistling with what I couldn’t help feeling was peculiar cheerfulness, I took a red pen and marked the hell out of Colby’s partial manuscript and then tossed it back onto the small desk.

Finn, dressing in the bedroom, called, “What have you got scheduled for today?”

“Well, I was going to throw myself on the mercy of the court, but as it turns out…”

He stepped out of the bedroom, pulling down a forest green polo shirt.“Are you free for breakfast?”

“I should probably…”

I did not have breakfast scheduled with anyone, but there were any number of things I could and should be doing.I should check on Cherry.Reassure her that murder rarely happened at conferences—especially when there were no award ceremonies involved.I should touch base with Lila.I should contact the conference organizers and offer to…

What?

It all felt a little bit pointless.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Troy Colby floating in the green-blue water.

Finn waited a moment, and when I didn’t complete the thought, he came over and sat beside me.“What would youliketo do today?”

I said honestly, “I don’t think I can take any more panels or any more interviews or any more meetings.”

“Agreed.I’m pretty much done with Noir at the Shore.Why don’t we have breakfast away from the hotel and then figure out the rest of the day.”

“Is that allowed?”I was only half-kidding.

“It’s not only allowed, I think it’s mandatory,” Finn said, and he was not kidding.

Water + Leaves was quiet at that hour—just the occasional cyclist whizzing by on the coastal trail, the muted clatter of cups behind the counter, and the low murmur of two baristas trading sleepy gossip.

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