The Killing Season by Meg Collett

Author:Meg Collett [Meg Collett]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Meg Collett
Published: 2016-01-25T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

I arrived late to Nyny’s lab, dressed in my warm outside gear. Wearing solid black, Ollie stood in the hallway, leaning against the wall, waiting for me with two coffee thermoses in her hands. If she noticed my puffy eyes and red nose, she didn’t comment. Instead she just handed over a coffee and took a long sip from hers.

My best friend simply cast a calm gaze on me and straightened off the wall. In all the time I’d known Ollie, she’d never really touched me willingly, but she pulled me into a hug and squeezed tight. “We’ll make it,” she whispered. “I promise you.”

I didn’t like Ollie making promises. Most people who promised things didn’t really mean them. They were pretty words without much intention. But with Ollie, I knew her promises were real live, vicious things. Her promises were threats to anyone who stood in her way of keeping them. What she would have to do to keep that promise chilled me. I couldn’t lose anyone else.

Just then the lab door swung open and Nyny skidded out, balancing a to-go tray full of coffees, a large messenger bag slung over her shoulder, and a box under one arm. She’d swept her long lavender hair up into a tangled bun on top of her head with a few forgotten strands tumbling loose over her shoulders. An impression of a pen blazed bright red on her pale cheek like she’d fallen asleep at her desk, and an unlit cigarette dangled out of the corner of her mouth. She kicked the lab door closed and said, “You two are late. We’ve got to get a move on. Here, hold this, will you?”

She shoved the box at Ollie, who took it with a clenched jaw. “We brought our own coffee,” she said, jerking her chin toward Nyny’s tray.

“Good. These are all for me. Why in the world would I bring you coffee?” She didn’t wait for a response before striding down the hall, her bag slipping down her shoulder, bun bouncing on top of her head.

“She’s something,” Ollie muttered under her breath. When I didn’t answer, she shot a worried glance at me. “You ready?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Sure.”

“You can stay here. I’ll help Nyny.”

“I can do it, Ollie.” As soon as I said the words, guilt twisted through my empty stomach and I wanted to cry. Just as fast, I added, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I mean, I can do it. But I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

“I get it.” She smiled at me, like my anger didn’t even bother her. I’d noticed how she expected abuse more than friendliness the first day I met her. I bit my lip and nodded at her.

We caught back up to Nyny in the entrance. She was busy trying to get the first interior door to open while Thad stood behind her with his arms crossed. He looked back over his shoulder when we came down the stairs, our footsteps echoing through the empty entry.

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