Page 118 of Not Quite Dead Yet

But someone had tried to kill Jet again, twelve hours ago, and even though the theory was neat, made most sense, it might not have been the same person who took a hammer to her head five days before.

‘Did you burn down Mason Construction last night, Henry?’ she said. ‘You have more reason to hate the company than most. Did you set fire to it?’

Henry’s eyes narrowed. ‘It burned down?’

‘Where were you last night?’

‘I was here.’

‘Alone?’

‘Alone,’ he answered.

Jet sighed. ‘You knowaloneis not an alibi.’

‘I was alone,’ Henry said, more power behind his voice.

‘OK.’

Jet glanced at the cupboard that Henry kept looking at, pointed to it.

‘Hey, Henry, can I borrow your gun?’

‘What?!’ That was Billy, not Henry, though Henry parroted him half a second later.

‘Someone tried to kill me on Halloween, and again last night,’ she said. ‘I think I’d feel better having a gun around, if they try a third time.’

Henry didn’t move.

‘And if I die before figuring this out, then JJ will probably spend his whole life in prison for my murder.’

That did it.

Henry shuffled over, bending to open the cupboard door.

He reached inside and pulled out the gun.

Stopped.

Stared at it, turning the black pistol around in his hands, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

Jet watched him, those words still ringing in her ears:Luke can be scary.

‘You won’t have to worry about Luke,’ she said. ‘I’ll deal with him, OK, Henry?’

‘OK.’

Henry turned the gun one last time, then held it out by the barrel, aiming back through his own chest.

Jet reached out, wrapped her left hand around the grip, the gun heavier than she expected.

‘Safety’s on. It’s loaded,’ Henry sniffed.

‘Thanks.’ Jet lowered it to her side. ‘You can have it back when I’m –’

‘– Yeah,’ Henry said, so she didn’t have to finish. ‘Bye, Jet.’

Jet turned to go, catching Billy’s face, beckoning him with her eyes. He wasn’t happy, she could tell by the set of his mouth.

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