“Smart,” was Elliot’s response to that.
“We should alsobothtake more photos of the knife,” I replied, pulling out my phone and documenting what I was doing.
Elliot took out his phone, too. “Why both of us?” he asked.
I sighed. “In case someone takes one of our phones,” I replied. “Please note that I’m also texting Hart.”
I’m about to photodump you, I sent to the elf.You can ignore them or do something with them, but we think this might have been used to kill my mother.
Jesus fuck, Mays, came back almost immediately.The fuck are you doing sending it to me?
I’m going to take it in to the Sheriff’s Office in a bit,I sent back.But I want to make sure nothing disappears.
Fuck. Fine.
I’d assumed that would be the end of our conversation, so I started sending pictures. But then he sent one more message.
Just make sure it isn’t the two of you that are disappearing.
I finished sending the photographs, then replied.
I’ll do my best.
By the timeI got back to the room from the Sheriff’s Office—which Elliot and I had argued about, since he made the very valid point that they’d already tried to arrest me once, and showing up with a knife was a huge risk—Elliot had already gone out, purchased sandwiches and cat supplies, and was pacing back and forth between the beds.
The cat was on one end of the hotel desk and looked up with a “Mrrp?” when I walked in.
“Hello, kitty.”
The cat stood up, swishing her tail.
“What am I?” Elliot asked, and I could tell he’d been worried, so I walked up and hugged him, feeling him exhale into my shoulder.
“My amazing boyfriend,” I replied into his hair, breathing in the scent of his sweat, the sun, and the faint remnant of his shampoo. “Who I love very much.”
“I love you, too.” He sighed again, his breath warm against my shirt. “I wasn’t sure you’d come back,” he said softly.
“They didn’t even threaten to arrest me,” I told him. “They weren’thappywith me, and they told me not to leave town, but there were no cuffs involved.” I tried to make light of it, but it fell kind of flat.
“Can we be done with going there, now?” he asked, strain still clear in his voice.
“If I can help it,” I replied, although I had the sense that I was probably going to have to go back—although hopefully never again to spend a night in the cells. There would be questions, or reclaiming my mother’s property, or getting Noah…something.
“Mmmrow?” I felt a small paw touch my back.
“Hey, kitten,” I said, turning without leaving Elliot’s arms entirely. “Do you need hugs, too?”
“That cat is attention-starved,” Elliot said, trying to sound derisive, but not entirely succeeding.
“So then we should give her attention,” I replied. “Isn’t that right, kitten?”
“You should call her something other thankittenandkitty,” Elliot said, moving to sit on the bed.
“Likecat?” I teased, which is what Elliot had been calling her. I bent to take off my shoes and socks.
“Call her Annie,” he suggested.
“Annie?! Ugh. No.” You can name your dog or cat whatever you want, but I personally think it’s weird to name animals ordinary human names.
