Page 68 of Like Grim Death: Part One
No known suspect list released to the public.
ALEXANDRIA - Governor Cooper has been discharged from Astor Hospital tonight—the only private hospital in the state—after months of recovery from unspecified injuries. Police say they do not have any suspects at this time.
Cooper was attacked at the Governor’s Mansion in rear of the building. Footage results have not been made public by police.
The investigation is ongoing.
Frowning, I shuffle the pages, going to the next. I’ve heard of the governor’s attack, but considering everything else going on in my life, I didn’t let it take up too much of my brain space. Still, I think of the photos of me I know were placed on Elijah’s dead guard’s lap at the governor mansion.Is this all related? Is it…Jeremiah?
My heart beats faster inside my chest and my mouth goes dry as I stare at the second page. It’s then I understand why Lucifer dented the folder these papers were in.
What I don’t understand is why he never told me this. It’s a headline that looks as if it was copied and pasted onto this page, separated from the original article. There is no date, no name of the newspaper. But the title itself sends chills down my spine.
Dozens of missing children have mysterious link to academic society in heart of downtown Alexandria.
“Open your mouth.”
I do, and Maverick spoons ice cream onto my tongue. The flavors of cookie dough and brownie pieces explode along my tastebuds, and I smile at him in the dark as I swallow, the only light from the projector on the wall across from us in the entertainment room.
“Good girl.”He smirks at me, his pale blue eyes gleaming as someone gets stabbed on TV. The film was shot by a young director, someone named Arlo Estere, who lives in West Virginia. Mavy mentioned it when he started the movie, making the connection to my home state.
He leans in closer, his shoulder touching mine as he slouches down, scooping more ice cream onto the spoon. “Would you ever let me stab you?” he asks, looking down into the frozen dessert.
I laugh, clamping a hand over my mouth, hugging the throw pillow in my lap tighter to my chest. I’m in baggy sweats, high-waisted, even though that particular fit sucks for my round belly. But it covers everything he absolutely cannot see, and so I deal with the material pressing into my middle.
His eyes come to mine as he pauses, his tattooed fingers still along the silver spoon. “You think getting stabbed is funny, huh?” He shakes his head once. “Because I can assure you,it is not.”
I think of when I cut him with a knife before and burst into another fit of giggles, then drop my hand from my mouth and squeeze his thigh, feeling the hard flex of muscle beneath his sweats. I decide not to mention Chelsea, even though what he did with her right in front of me kind of scarred me.
“It’s not funny, I just didn’t think you were paying attention.” I glance at the screen, the aftermath still shot of a man lying in a pool of blood seeping onto a white tile floor.
Mavy arches a brow. “I’m always paying attention.” He lifts the spoon, careful with it so it doesn’t drip as he guides it to my mouth. “Especially to you.”
I part my lips, taking his offering, a chill running down my spine with the cold of the ice cream. And truthfully, maybe his words too.
Because is he really paying attention? If he was, he’d know my secrets, wouldn’t he?
I think of last night, the weekly walk I find uncomfortable because I never know what to say, or how to act. I remember the tension between Lucifer and Maverick I didn’t understand. The words Mavy spoke to him, so strange, about secrets. I was terrified Lucifer would look at me in a way that exposedours.But he didn’t. He’s very good at keeping the dark things hidden when he needs to.
“Who do you think is the… initiate?” I try to think of smart questions, like Sid seems to have. Mavy told me they didn’t get a good look at the person being brought in, and he assumes they’re for some other subsect of the 6. All stuff that makes no sense to me, but I’m trying to follow along. “That everyone was talking about last night?” He told me Elijah called them in for tonight, confirming what Lucifer said on our walk. I know he has to leave soon.
He leans over to set the ice cream carton on the black coffee table, his triceps flexing with the movement.
He grabs my hand when he settles back, bringing it to his lap again as he faces me, eerie music from the movie soundtrack playing through the mounted speakers in this room. “I don’t know, pretty girl.” He squeezes my hand.
I roll my eyes, but I’m not content with his answer.
I think of doing our laundry earlier this week, the way I stilled as I held up his black robe, the one he sometimes wears to Sanctum. Pushing through my nerves at questioning things I don’t understand, I say, “Did he get hurt?” I avert my gaze, unease a pit in my stomach. The only other initiation ritual I’ve seen was Sid’s, and I don’t like to think about it.Shewasn’thurt.“Theinitiate?”
Silence stretches and I look up, seeing Maverick studying me closely. “Why do you ask?” His question betrays nothing. Not a confirmation nor a denial.
“The blood on your robes.” It clicks in my brain, and I remember how hard it felt. I licked my finger and ran it over the stain. Crimson circled around the pad of my fingerprint. “Was it his?”
He doesn’t confirm nor deny but instead counters with, “Well, if I’m potentially meeting him tonight, he must not have gotten hurt too bad, huh?” There’s a lightness to his words but his eyes are rapt on mine.
“And none of it was yours?” I double check. I want to stop him from seeing Tomas completely, but I don’t think anyone can take away the guilt and remorse filling his brain. Punishment though, seems to help lighten the burden.
I think I’m beginning to understand that.
