Page 16 of Brush with Death
Cyril crossed his arms over his chest and pressed his lips together.He was trying very hard not to smile.“What will you do if I don’t?Tattle on me to my mom?I know she’s texting you.”
“She’s worried about you.We all are.”
“I know, and I’m grateful for the fact that you care about me enough to worry, but I’m fine.”
Vale arched a brow.Okay, maybe Cyril wasn’t quite fine.He was in pain and worried about his gift, but eating on the couch rather than in the kitchen wouldn’t change anything about that.Still, he went along with it because it would make Vale feel better.
He was almost done eating when his phone vibrated again.He expected it to be his mother sending him suggestions on places to visit—until recently, she was the only one who ever called him for non-professional reasons—so he was surprised to see it wasn’t her name on the screen.
“Who’s Katie?”Vale asked.
“A friend.”Well, she was more like an acquaintance, but Cyril had precious little friends.He liked to think that Katie was one of them, even though they didn’t talk often.
Vale nodded as if satisfied that it wasn’t work.He allowed Cyril to pick up his phone and answer without saying anything about him pushing himself too hard.
“Hey, Katie,” Cyril said.The sobbing that greeted him made him sit up straighter.Whatever was going on couldn’t be good.
“Cyril?”Katie asked.
“Yeah, it’s me.What’s going on?”
“It’s Sam.He’s dead.”
* * * *
VALE HAD NO IDEA WHOwas on the other side of the phone.Cyril had been smiling when he answered, so Vale didn’t think it was someone looking to hire him, but from the looks of it, it wasn’t good news.Cyril had precious little friends, and Vale hoped that they were all okay.
Unfortunately, he didn’t think so.
Cyril was silent as he listened to the person on the other side of the phone.He looked shocked and pale, and Vale was starting to worry.He didn’t want to interrupt, but he needed to know what was happening so he could help.
He understood why Cyril was reacting like that when his boyfriend got his voice back.
“What do you mean, Sam’s dead?”Cyril asked.“What happened?”
Vale wanted to be there for Cyril, but he felt that this was none of his business.If Cyril wanted him to know who was calling him and who’d died, he’d tell him.Vale was curious, but he wasn’t about to ask questions.He didn’t think he would have to.Cyril would probably tell him everything once he hung up.He’d want Vale’s support.
“I can’t—I don’t understand, Katie,” Cyril said.He sat up and put his phone on the coffee table.He pressed a finger on the screen, and a woman’s voice filled the room.
“I don’t know what happened,” she was saying as she cried.“The police were here.They told me he drowned.They said it was an accident, but you know Sam.He would never go close enough to a body of water that he’d drown.”
“Yeah, I know,” Cyril reassured her.“Where did it happen?”
“At the lake.”
Vale wasn’t sure which lake Katie was talking about, but Cyril seemed to know.“Why do the police think it was an accident?”Cyril asked.
“They didn’t give me details.They said that he was alone and that they were sorry for my loss.He wouldn’t have done that—what they implied, Cyril.Please.I need your help.”
Vale tensed.So that was why Katie had called.She hadn’t just wanted to tell Cyril that one of his friends had died.She wanted his help.
It made sense.She’d just lost someone who was clearly important to her, and she didn’t believe the police that it had been an accident.Maybe she was right, but the only way to know for sure would be to talk to Sam.
And the only person who could do that was Cyril.
Except that he couldn’t do it right now.He was still dealing with his head injury, and Vale knew that he was afraid of what had happened at the funeral home.He hadn’t been able to pull that woman’s soul back into her body, and he was terrified that he’d never be able to use his ability again in the future.Vale didn’t believe that would be the case, but he understood why Cyril was freaking out, and pushing himself before he was fully healed wouldn’t help.In fact, it would probably make things worse, which was the last thing Cyril needed.
On the other hand, he knew Cyril.If there was any chance that he could help anyone, he’d do it, especially when his friends were involved.He’d do so even to his own detriment, no matter what Vale had to say about it.That meant that Vale would have to keep an eye on him.He wouldn’t be able to convince Cyril to sit this one out, but he’d make sure Cyril didn’t do anything stupid, like hurting himself worse than he already had.
