Page 45 of Brush with Death
“I had to killsomeone.”
Cyril swallowed.He’d known that Angelo believed he could summon demons, but hearing it was different.He still hated Angelo and what he’d done, but part of him pitied the guy.
He didn’t pity him enough to get him out of paying for what he’d done to Sam, though.
“Tell us what happened in detail,” Vale ordered.
“I told Sam about the ceremony to summon a demon and that he could be there with us.He was skeptical, but he agreed.I told him that we could ask the demon for whatever we wanted, but he only wanted a job.” Angelo wrinkled his nose and whimpered.That had to hurt, and Cyril was glad it did.He wanted Angelo to suffer.
“A job wasn’t ambitious enough,” Angelo continued.“I decided to sacrifice him since we needed someone to die anyway.”
“You sacrificed Sam because he only wanted a job out of this?”Cyril asked.
Vale wrapped an arm around Cyril’s waist as if he thought that Cyril would throw himself at Angelo.Cyril was tempted.He wanted to give him a good shake or scream in his face.He didn’t want to touch the guy, though.
Angelo shrugged.“I had to sacrifice someone.Sam didn’t know what was happening.We built a fire and started chanting, and he kept glancing behind himself.He was afraid of the lake, I think.He tried to resist when I told him to get in, but I told him it was necessary and that we’d be going with him.As soon as it was deep enough, I jumped on him.It was the easiest way to do it.I tried other methods, but they’re too dirty.”
Cyril closed his eyes.He didn’t need to hear how Sam had died in detail.He’d seen the result of what had happened in that lake.
“Sam was the wrong person to sacrifice.It didn’t work, and we couldn’t summon the demon.We left him there and ran before anyone could see us.”
Angelo was talking as if it was something he’d done more than once, and Cyril remembered that Rachel had said that it might be.He was here for Sam, but he wanted justice for all of Angelo’s victims.“It hadn’t worked before, either,” he pointed out.
“I need to find the perfect one.I haven’t yet, but I will.I just have to find out what the demon likes.”
Cyril was done.It was clear that Angelo wouldn’t stop hurting people.“What’s going to happen to him if we hand him over to the authorities?”he asked Vale.
Vale guided him away from Angelo, who was still talking about his demon.“Considering everything, I don’t think he’ll go to jail.”
“He has problems.”
“I don’t know.He’s certainly delusional, but I believe that he knew what he was doing.He knows that killing is wrong.He just doesn’t care.”
“Will the police even believe that he killed Sam?Do we have proof?”
Vale hesitated, then shook his head.“We have his confession, but he’d be smart enough not to repeat it to the cops.”
“So there’s only one way to ensure that he won’t ever hurt anyone again.”
“I’m sorry, Cyril.I know you don’t like it, but as far as I’m concerned, the choice is easy.Angelo didn’t only kill Sam.He killed other people, and he’ll continue doing it as long as he tries to summon his demon.I don’t think cops will stop him.”
“All right.”
“All right?”
“The three of you should do what you have to do.I just want this to be over and for Sam to be at peace.”
“I’ll walk you back to the car.”
“There’s no need for you to do that.I can go on my own.”
Vale took Cyril’s hand and raised it to his lips so he could kiss it.“I’m not leaving you alone right now.Russell and John don’t need me, anyway.”
“I would’ve thought you’d want to keep an eye on John.”
“I do, but you and Russell trust him.Maybe I should, too.”
Cyril smiled.“You don’t hate him as much as you say.”
