“Don’t send him anything.”
“No?Are you going to break your promise?”
“I didn’t promise him anything.He asked if he could be involved, but I didn’t answer.”
Cyril pressed his lips together.He hadn’t seen much of John the other night because after Vale had made sure that Russell would be okay, he’d whisked Cyril back home.Cyril had no idea what had happened to Albert or to his body, and he didn’t want to know.Albert had gotten what he deserved.
Now, it was time for Angelo to do the same.Cyril had wanted to go right away, but Vale had insisted that Rachel should look into the man.He could have been more dangerous than they expected.
It didn’t sound like it.
“Why did he do it?”he asked.
Rachel sighed.“From what I can see, he truly believes that he can summon demons.He keeps buying herbs and crystals, and his social media posts are angry and delusional.He doesn’t feel like one of those smart serial killers.He’s unhinged.”
Angelo had killed many people, but he hadn’t done it because he wanted to kill.He’d done it because he truly thought he would be summoning a demon that would help him get away from the life he hated.Cyril hadn’t thought it possible, but Rachel had just confirmed it.Cyril might not understand it, but he didn’t have to.As long as Angelo believed in what he was doing, he’d continue hurting people.
It was sad, really.Cyril didn’t have any sympathy for Angelo, who’d clearly ruined his own life and was blaming other people for it, but the man wasn’t all there.Cyril couldn’t help but feel pity for him.
The front door banged open, making them jump.Vale looked like he was ready to kill whoever it was, and the fact that it was Russell didn’t deter him.
“Are we ready to roll?”Russell asked as he walked into the kitchen.
His eyes lit up when he saw Vale’s cup of coffee on the table.“You made me coffee.”
Vale snatched the cup before Russell could reach for it.“I did not.”
Russell pouted, but it only lasted a few seconds.“Well?Are we ready to go?We have an idiot to kill.”
Cyril swallowed.He understood that for Russell, this was business as usual, but he was still uneasy.He hadn’t seen what had happened to Albert, but he had a good imagination.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to send all of this to John Smith?”Rachel asked.
“I will stop working with you if you do,” Vale warned her.
“And there’s no need to,” Russell added.“I already texted him.”
Vale stared at him.“Why would you do that?”
“Because he wanted to be involved.”
“And I want ice cream for dinner, but you don’t see me eating it.”
Russell frowned.“Why don’t you?You could have ice cream for dinner.You’re an adult, and you decide what you eat.”
Vale looked like he was trying really hard to resist the urge to strangle Russell.He probably was.“I don’t want anything to do with John.He tried to kill me.”
“And he apologized,” Cyril pointed out.
Vale looked betrayed.“Don’t do this to me.I can’t stand the guy.”
“Which is why we’re pairing him with Russell.”
“I can’t stand either of them.I’m going to have to deal with both for the rest of my life if we adopt him.”
“Who said anything about adopting him?”
Vale gestured at Russell.“He already has.He’s taken in John as if he was a stray cat.”
