Page 55 of Slashes in the Snow
“No, not exactly.”
“Then Kira can hear.”
Hawk rubs the back of his neck. “I still think we should talk in private. It’s about that situation you asked me to look into.”
“The situation with Kira and who’s stalking her? That situation?”
“Yes, exactly that,” Hawk responds, miffed.
“Then Kira should definitely hear,” Ky makes up his mind. My pulse flies one-hundred-and-eighty miles an hour at the mention of the word stalking.
“Suit yourself. You’re the Prez.” Hawk throws the yellow folder at Ky. “Read it.”
More curious than a cat, Ky picks it up and inspects its contents.
His face scrunches as he reads, “Diagnosis: post-traumatic stress syndrome, depression, early onset of psychosis, with instances of hallucinations and delusions. Attempted suicide.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Where the fuck did you get that?” I hurl myself across the counter at Ky, trying to grab the folder out of his hand.
He steps away faster than I can move. “Kira, what is this?”
“It’s . . .” I began to hyperventilate. “It’s . . .mypast.”
Ky looks at me like he’s never seen me before. “Attempted suicide? And what exactly is psychosis?”
“It’s a mental disorder,” Hawk feels compelled to explain.
“It’s not a disorder,” I snap. “It’s a symptom.”
“Of a mental disorder,” he patronizes me.
“No, I don’t have an illness. And I haven't had an episode in years.”
“Ya sure? Cause you’re sure selling it hard to my Prez over there that someone is after you.” Hawk makes it clear he thinks my claims are bullshit.
“Someone is.”
“Really? Has there been any more spooky incidents? Any more freaky feelings that someone is following you? Has the alarm even tripped on its own lately?”
I swallow hard, running through the last week. No, none of those things have happened recently.
“Maybe Ky scared whoever it was away?” I try to rationalize.
“Maybe there was no one to begin with,” Hawk tries to throw me under the bus.
“There was. I know it,” I push. I’m not crazy. Someone was following me.
“Not far as I can tell,” Hawk disagrees. I want to punch him in his smug face. “Far be it from me to deny help to anyone, but when something seems off, I dig in deep.”
“And you decided to dig into me?” I hiss. I feel violated. That file ismypersonal record.Mycross to bear. It should have beenmydecision when and where I told Ky about it. Not have it dumped all over the table like a barrel full of rotten fish.
“She’s been playing you the whole time, bro.”
“I have not. “I strongly deny his accusation. “Why are you trying to poison him against me?”
“Because he’s my Prez, and one of my best friends, and it’s my job to protect him.” Hawk gets in my face.
I want to break his glasses right off his nose. “You’re an asshole.”
