Page 57 of Kane

“The feisty one,” Eddy says with a grunt. “Veronica.”

“I told you not to worry about her, Ed. I’ll take care of it.”

“Don’t look like you’re doing a very good job, if I got the fucking cops at my door.”

“I said I’m handling it.” Daddy growls his wolfy growl. “Maybe if you kept your fucking dick in your pants, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“Don’t act like you haven’t done the same, Cyd.”

My father scoffs as he drinks his drink. I watch Two-Face and Batman fight, and Batman falls to the ground.

“You were supposed to kill her, Ed. Not knock the bitch up.”

“Oh, so you’re the only one allowed to spread your seed, is that it?”

Something about their words feels strange. Familiar, but…

My eyes feel heavy and I’m tired.

I hear a smack, a curse. Two-Face has Batman by the neck, and he looks like he’s going to kill him.

“Fucking handle it, Cyd. Or I will.”

I blink, my eyesight blurring as the pain subsides.

“You alright, darling? You getting one of those migraines again?”

I blink again, shaking my head, remembering where I am.

Mrs. Burnside’s place.

Pumpkin jumps into my lap. He starts pawing at me, kneading my shirt and I try to make sense of what I just saw.

Eddy.

Dad’s friend’s name was Eddy. He lived on a farm.

And apparently, he knew Veronica.

At least, I think he did…

Panic swells and I need to get out of here so I can breathe. Process whatever the fuck is happening, whatever these random memory-dream fragments are.

“I should go, but, uh… thanks for the coffee.”

She smiles at me as she walks me to the door, and Pumpkin cries when we get to it.

“Of course.”

“I’ll make some posts. About the cats, I mean. I can help screen the applicants. Send the ones I think will be good fits your way.”

She gives me a kind smile. “Thank you, Kane. That’s a huge help.”

I nod as I move to open the door, but she stops me with her words.

“You could come visit, you know.”

I turn to look at her, unsure how to answer her. Part of me feels like she’s just being polite, but…