Page 52 of Everything That Kills Me
“Assuming I’d been able to hide the syringe, screamed that he was attacking me, fended him off in the least violent way I could, and hoped he died before someone burst into the room, or at least that he lost the power of speech before that happened. Killing him in another way would have made things awkward.”
“You’d not mentioned a worry about the drug.”
“It hadn’t occurred to me until that point. A mistake. Then again, how could I test it?”
“I’ve always told you not to fall in love with plan A. Be ready to be unfaithful with plan B, then C… Whatever you need to do, you do. When he flirted, you saw opportunity and acted on it. Eighteen is the age of consent in Türkiye and he didn’t care. He was a bad man. No loss to the world.”
“But to his wife and kids?” Jack had seen their pictures on Thomas’s computer.
“You already know the answer to that.”
“The other wives and kids who were his victims.”
Thomas reached over and patted Jack’s knee. “Well done. You were quick thinking, and did all the right things.”
Jack nodded. He couldn’t bring himself to say thank you for being praised for the way he killed someone. But he was glad Thomas was pleased with him.
It was only after they’d gone to bed that Jack checked his phone and saw all the calls and messages from Zeph who was clearly worried about him. Suddenly, Zeph was who he needed to see. Zeph would remind him of the teenage boy he was, not a deadly weapon.
Fourteen
Zeph woke to find his bedside light was on. He hadn’t left it on. He hardly had time to think that was weird before something pressed hard against his mouth and he panicked, thrashing around until he realised it was Jack’s hand. Jack put his finger over his lips and Zeph nodded. The hand moved.
“Are you okay?” Zeph whispered.
Well, of course he was okay. It was…eleven thirty at night and he appeared to have climbed in through Zeph’s window. Zeph pushed himself to a sitting position and Jack sat beside him, his legs stretched out on top of the duvet. He wore his dark grey running gear.
“Have you run here?”
Jack nodded. “Sorry I didn’t answer your calls. I couldn’t. I was away with Thomas and it was a no phones situation.”
“So you weren’t ill?”
Jack shook his head.
“Or being held at gun point?”
“No.”
Why hadn’t Jack waited until morning to let him know he was all right? Though Zeph was glad he hadn’t. “You bunked off school! I’ve never done that. Did you do something fun?”
Jack shook his head.
“What’s wrong?”
“It was a hard weekend.”
Zeph slid his hand over Jack’s and squeezed his fingers. “Can you tell me about it?”
“Just some unpleasant stuff Thomas and I had to deal with. Did Rufus and Scott try anything?”
Jack clenched his teeth as he listened to what had happened.
“I’m still wondering if I did the right thing letting the Head think it was some random boy from another school. I guess I’ll find out on Monday. Have you come to get your homework?”
Jack’s smile churned Zeph’s stomach. “Is that what you think?”
“Well, yes. You’ll get demerit points if you don’t hand it in on time.” Zeph hoped Jack knew he was teasing.
