Page 96 of Bad Intentions

“Not giving people the answers they want is a power play,” said the same serial killer I’d read about so much.

“See something you like?” I teased Derek with one of Vic’s lines.

He smirked. “You are a psycho, aren’t you? What’s going on in that head of yours?” He poked me in the forehead with his finger.

I didn’t answer, waiting for him to tell me that he had things to do. He didn’t.

“You are going to stay in Burnville for now, right?” I asked.

“Not for long. They found Sarah, which means her daddy will roll into town soon. It’s only a matter of hours.” He stretched lazily and folded his arm under his head, cushioning it.

My heart skipped a beat. “But you had nothing to do with it. You weren’t even together.”

His expression hardened. “I don’t want to take a chance of running into her dad. He’s one of those controlling assholes with a badge and an inflated ego.”

“How would he even know that you are still in town?”

“That bitch Karen hates my guts. She cut me off once. She might just say something stupid to the cops.”

“I know.”

“Well, you work for her.”

“Yeah, it’s called ‘a job.’ I need money. But she’s annoying. She thinks her shit doesn’t stink and her daughter is a princess, while Alysha sleeps with every guy in a fifty-mile radius.”

Derek snorted and looked away. I knew I’d hit a sore spot.

“I was accepted into college in Philly,” I lied, getting a brow raise from Derek. “Yeah, I’m not sure that’s my plan, though. I’ve worked since I was fourteen. I might just travel for a year.”

I didn’t have the money to travel. Mostly, I had no clue where to go and what to do out there, outside Burnville. That was where Derek came in.

“I work hard, you know. Unlike some girls,” I said with a sigh. “I should’ve gotten a raise a long time ago, but Karen is Karen.”

“She’s a bitch.”

He obviously had a beef with her, so I went along. “Yeah. I can’t stand her. Every time she shakes that ice from her tumbler and crushes it between her teeth like a squirrel, it makes me cringe.”

Derek laughed.

“No wonder she has no man,” I carried on, fueled by his approval. “Her late husband probably died of disgust.”

“What did he die of?”

Cancer. But I shrugged. “Maybe she killed him. Who knows?”

Derek laughed again. “Yeah, someone needs to put glass in that ice of hers, teach the old bitch a lesson.” Derek’s brows flicked at me with a dare.

“That’s…harsh,” I said with unease.

“That’s reality. Some people need to pay for their shitty attitude.”

I didn’t know how to respond.

Derek leaned into me, his lips almost touching mine. “Do it,” he mouthed, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

“Do what?” I asked nervously.

“You should do it. Without anyone knowing. She’d never suspect you. But she’ll be out of commission for a while. I’d love to see her face when she bites on glass. Want a drink?” Derek offered as I stalled in surprise. “Wait here. I’ll be back.”