Following his gaze, I turned to look. Taped to the door was some sort of note. From my aunt and uncle? That would be my guess.
But that guess was wrong – unfortunately.
Chapter 48
With Joel standing a few feet away, I pulled the note off the door and gave it a quick read, only to feel myself pale with anger. I looked up and saw Joel watching me.
Concern darkened his features. "What is it?"
"Nothing."
Again, I looked down to study the note. I recognized the tight handwriting as Derek's. But even if I didn't, I'd still know that the note was from him, even though it was unsigned.
It was short, only four words.Did you pay him?Below those four words was a scribbled drawing of a cartoon cat.
In other words, a pussy.
I was still staring when the note disappeared, yanked out of my hands by Joel. I looked up to see him clutching it in his right hand, even as his gaze remained on me.
I gave the note a nervous glance. "You're not planning to read that?"
"The hell I'm not, after the look you just gave it."
"I gave it a look? What kind of look?"
"Like it hurt you." His voice softened. "And I don't like it."
"Yeah," I mumbled, "that makes two of us."
Joel rotated the note and gave it a long, silent look. When he looked up, his jaw was tight. "Who wrote this? Derek?"
"I guess."
"Youguess? Or youknow?"
"It's his handwriting. So yeah, I'm pretty sure it's him." I blew out a long, nervous breath. "Some joke huh?"
"Lemme ask you something. Doyouthink it's funny?"
I glanced away. "Not particularly. But Idolike cats. So that's something, right?"
"Oh yeah. It's something." Joel gave the note another look. "Am I the 'him'? The one you're paying?"
"I guess," I said. "I mean, I can't think of anyone else, if that's what you're asking." I reached out and tugged the note from his hand. And then, I crumpled it up and shoved it deep into the pocket of my shorts.
Too bad we weren't camping. I'd toss it into the fire and laugh while it burned.
Okay, maybe I wouldn't laugh. After all, none of this was terribly funny. Still, I tried to smile. "You know what? I'm not even gonna think about it."
"Yeah? Well,Iam."
I gave Joel a pleading look. "I appreciate that, honest, but this isn't what I wanted." I glanced toward my front door, which I still hadn't opened. "It's like every time you and I get a chance to talk, something stupid happens. I hate that."
"Wanna know what I hate?" Joel's gaze shifted to my pocket. "Shit like that. The guy needs a good ass-kicking."
"Maybe he does. But that would hardly be helpful." I sighed. "Can't we just forget it?"
"Here's another question," Joel said. "Before I showed up, was there anything between you?"
