whoâd understand what he was going through and maybe give him an idea of what to do. He mightâve been able to talk to Mr. Vorhees, but Cory wouldnât let him on account of that damn necklace. Even somebody like the guy whoâd found him at Belardiâs might be okay if he wasnât a detectiveâheâd told Mr. Runyon more that day than heâd ever thought he could tell anybody, it had just come spilling out of him. Heâd had a couple of casual buddies in Newport Beach, but they were just guys who worked in the marina like he did, guys he could have a beer and talk boats with. Up here he didnât even have anyone like that. Hadnât made one single friend in San Francisco. Except for Cory he was alone, all alone.
Cory, Cory, Cory!
Her bedroom door was unlocked. He went in even though he wasnât supposed to without permission. The sexy perfume sheâd put on for Chaleen was sweet in the air, sickening sweet. It made him think of her and that bastard together in bed, Chaleen sweating and grunting on top of her, and he felt like gagging. He shoved the ugly images out of his mind.
What were they planning? He thought it might have something to do with Mrs. Vorhees, a way to stop her from testifying against him and sending him to prison, and he hoped that was it, but at the same time he was afraid of what it might be.
He moved around Coryâs room, the master bedroom. Sheâd always made a big deal out of him respecting her privacy, but he couldnât stop himself from invading it now. He didnât really believe there was anything here thatâd give him an idea of what she and Chaleen were up to, but how did you know for sure unless you looked?
He opened the drawer in the nightstand next to the king-size bed, and the first thing he saw was a package of condoms she kept in there. Right away he slammed it shut again and went over to her vanity table. Those drawers were full of cosmetics, and the ones in the red Chinese dresser were stuffed with silky underwear in the bright colors she liked. The walk-in closet was packed, too: racks of expensive shoes, coats, suits, dressesâfive times as many nice clothes as he owned. Different size cartons and boxes jammed the shelf above. What was in them?
He took one down, opened it. Fancy round cloth hat with a tiny brim. Nobody wore hats anymore, did they? Heâd never seen Cory in this one or any other. He put it back, took down another carton. New cowhide boots that probably wouldnât fit on the rack. He exchanged that carton for a smaller one with an Emporio Armani label on it. See-through nightgown. He put that away quickly, reached for a small, square box in one corner. Something hard wrapped in a cloth.â¦
His breath sucked in when he saw what it was. New, too, brand new, and so small and cold he almost let go of it, the way you would a live thing that might suddenly bite. He stared at it, the fear and confusion in him growing.
âKenny!â
He jumped at the sound of his name, swung around. She was standing in the bedroom doorway, her face clouded with fury. Heâd been so focused on what heâd found he hadnât heard her come into the apartmentâshe always walked quick and silent like a cat.
âOh, God, Coryââ
Her expression darkened even more when she saw what he was holding. She came fast to where he was, snapped, âGive me that,â and snatched it out of his hand, then slapped him across the face, hard. âWhat do you think youâre doing in my bedroom, pawing through my possessions? You know how much I hate that.â
He fingered his stinging cheek. âIâm sorry, I just ⦠Iâ¦â
âNow Iâll have to lock my bedroom door, too, when I go out so you wonât sneak around in here anymore.â
âCory, why do you have aââ
âNever mind. Itâs none of your concern. Forget about it, forget you ever saw
Cory, Cory, Cory!
Her bedroom door was unlocked. He went in even though he wasnât supposed to without permission. The sexy perfume sheâd put on for Chaleen was sweet in the air, sickening sweet. It made him think of her and that bastard together in bed, Chaleen sweating and grunting on top of her, and he felt like gagging. He shoved the ugly images out of his mind.
What were they planning? He thought it might have something to do with Mrs. Vorhees, a way to stop her from testifying against him and sending him to prison, and he hoped that was it, but at the same time he was afraid of what it might be.
He moved around Coryâs room, the master bedroom. Sheâd always made a big deal out of him respecting her privacy, but he couldnât stop himself from invading it now. He didnât really believe there was anything here thatâd give him an idea of what she and Chaleen were up to, but how did you know for sure unless you looked?
He opened the drawer in the nightstand next to the king-size bed, and the first thing he saw was a package of condoms she kept in there. Right away he slammed it shut again and went over to her vanity table. Those drawers were full of cosmetics, and the ones in the red Chinese dresser were stuffed with silky underwear in the bright colors she liked. The walk-in closet was packed, too: racks of expensive shoes, coats, suits, dressesâfive times as many nice clothes as he owned. Different size cartons and boxes jammed the shelf above. What was in them?
He took one down, opened it. Fancy round cloth hat with a tiny brim. Nobody wore hats anymore, did they? Heâd never seen Cory in this one or any other. He put it back, took down another carton. New cowhide boots that probably wouldnât fit on the rack. He exchanged that carton for a smaller one with an Emporio Armani label on it. See-through nightgown. He put that away quickly, reached for a small, square box in one corner. Something hard wrapped in a cloth.â¦
His breath sucked in when he saw what it was. New, too, brand new, and so small and cold he almost let go of it, the way you would a live thing that might suddenly bite. He stared at it, the fear and confusion in him growing.
âKenny!â
He jumped at the sound of his name, swung around. She was standing in the bedroom doorway, her face clouded with fury. Heâd been so focused on what heâd found he hadnât heard her come into the apartmentâshe always walked quick and silent like a cat.
âOh, God, Coryââ
Her expression darkened even more when she saw what he was holding. She came fast to where he was, snapped, âGive me that,â and snatched it out of his hand, then slapped him across the face, hard. âWhat do you think youâre doing in my bedroom, pawing through my possessions? You know how much I hate that.â
He fingered his stinging cheek. âIâm sorry, I just ⦠Iâ¦â
âNow Iâll have to lock my bedroom door, too, when I go out so you wonât sneak around in here anymore.â
âCory, why do you have aââ
âNever mind. Itâs none of your concern. Forget about it, forget you ever saw
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