Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but I don’t know why. I can’t really explain it. It’s like I have all the pieces of the puzzle inside my head, but I can’t put them together. When the man killed Gary, there was a girl there, too. She…she was already dead but didn’t talk to me at all.” Remi’s body shuddered. “She has pale skin and bright red hair. She’s beautiful but looks so fucking sad. The weird thing, she carries this rat with her, petting it like it’s a beloved pet. It’s black and white and really big…you know, for a rat.” Remi frowned. “I’m pretty sure Gary knew her. They didn’t talk to each other in front of me, but when they left, they were holding hands. They just seemed real…familiar with each other. It was happy and sad, you know? Right before they disappeared that time, Gary told me I had to be the one to stop him. Me. I can’t do that shit, Ryder. I’m afraid of a skinny cat, for fuck’s sake!”
“You saved Jason Waylon. I bet he thinks you should be nominated as a superhero. Don’t underestimate yourself, Remington. I think you’ve handled all this like a fucking badass. You’ve impressed the hell out of me.” Ryder said.
“But…but what if I just got lucky? What if I fail on the next one?” He tangled his fingers with Ryder’s. “There will be more, Ryder. My gut tells me there will.”
“Well, we’re trusting your gut, that’s for sure,” Ryder told him. “But you aren’t going to be alone. Jeremy will be working on things with the police and then we’ve got to get you hooked up with his family while we’re in New Orleans. And then you have me, Remi. I’m not going to let you do this alone. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’m counting on that,” Remi answered. “Okay, back to the horror story otherwise known as my life. When Jason was being taunted and tortured, both Gary and the girl were there. That time, neither of them spoke to me. It was like they both wanted to but couldn’t. I don’t know why it would be different than the time before, when Gary did talk to me, but it was.”
“Gary didn’t tell you the girl’s name?”
“Didn’t or couldn’t…I don’t know which,” Remi answered.
“Okay, so there has to be a connection between Gary and Jason Waylon. I’ll get Jeremy working on that first thing in the morning. Once we find the connection, I think it will help us put those puzzle pieces inside your head together.”
“True…but guess what?” Remi looked up at Ryder. “It’s already morning. You need to call Jeremy, decide if we are driving or flying to New Orleans, and fuck me again…not in that order.”
Smiling, Ryder answered, “I think that would be a very productive start to our day.” He reached for Remi again, so fucking thankful that he’d had two condoms in his wallet. Maybe their luck was turning around?
As soon as their flight touched down in New Orleans, Ryder called Jeremy to see if he’d been able to find a connection between Gary, Jason, and whoever the mysterious girl was. Remi was busy making arrangements for them to get a rental car, but he was always in Ryder’s view.
Jeremy picked up on the first ring. “You are so fired, dude. The captain is pissed that you and Boy Wonder are in New Orleans. It’s hilarious.”
“Yeah, fucking hilarious,” Ryder answered dryly. “Tell me you found something for me.”
“Yes, I did, partner dearest. It looks like Gary Landon Lacasse and Jason Waylon went to the same high school and graduated the same year. They were on the football team together and from what I’ve been able to dig up so far, they were the usual football popular crowd. You know how it is in Texas? Everybody loves the football players. After graduation, Gary went to the University of Texas and Jason Waylon went to Texas A&M. From all appearances, it looks like they parted ways on friendly terms at the end of their senior year and they haven’t been in touch since then—not even Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram friends. Nothing on the nameless girl with bright red hair and pale skin.”
“There’s something else there, Jeremy. Keep digging. Somebody wanted them both dead, and Remi feels certain that there’s going to be more victims. Find me something we can use; there’s some kind of connection between Gary and the girl, maybe boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“I’m still looking,” Jeremy grumbled. “I mean, my plate’s pretty full. Between cleaning out your desk and researching, I’m not sure I can shoehorn anything else in. Before you say it, yes, I know I’m funny. Oh, and I’m about to text you Dirty Gertie’s address. She said for you and Boy Wonder to come by anytime today. She’ll be looking for you.”