Page 118 of Unholy Masks

For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the damp sheets. My fingers trembled when I ripped it off, shame and disgust tightening my chest.

I clawed against my throat, gasping for air.

The walls shrank, getting smaller and smaller.

I hate you, Mother.

27

NO BAD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

YARA

Ifinally got a message from Reah about Reginald Sinclair.

Reah: Hi Yara, Reah here. Sorry it took me days to get back. I don’t often check my e-mail. I’m free tomorrow if you want to meet.

Me: Do u know Hot cuppa?

Reah: Of course.

Me: I’ll meet you there whenever u r free.

Reah: I’m free tomorrow. Five?

Me: See you then. Thank u.

I arrived at Hot Cuppa after work.

I was excited to meet the woman Ryden trusted—he told me she didn’t know about his extracurricular activities, but I wanted to see how much she really did know.

Reah was wearing corduroy pants and a full-sleeved T-shirt. She had neon green hair with pink streaks.

“Hi. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course, Doctor West.”

“Call me Yara. So the reason I wanted to meet you is…”

“Do you want me to dig dirt about Ryden or something?” Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were not. “Please, don’t tell me it was that.” She laughed nervously. “I consider him a friend.”

“Of course not.” I smiled. “Ryden told me you’re good at finding information. Are you also good at finding people?”

“I am. Mostly, but I need things to go on.” She said, taking a sip of her coffee. “You want to find someone?”

I ordered a latte and followed her outside. We took the table at the very end, away from the crowd.

I took the file from my bag and pushed it toward her. Her brows knitted when she read the name.

Reginald Sinclair.

“Is this…” she trailed off. “No?”

“It’s Ryden’s father.”

Her expression soured, and she stiffened. It was clear she knew exactly what that man had done to Ryden, to his family.

My tongue tasted bitter just thinking about this monster. There were all kinds of monsters in this world, but the worst ones were the ones who used vulnerable people’s trust and then broke it without mercy.