When All the World Sleeps by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry

Author:J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry [Rock, J.A. & Henry, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crocobear Press

* * *

Bel must’ve been a mile out of town when he saw Daniel walking on the side of the road. Daniel didn’t react at all when the headlights on Bel’s car hit him. Bel braked, backed up, and swung the cruiser around. He would have hit the siren if he thought it would make a difference.

He drove past Daniel, pulled over, and got out and waited for him.

“Daniel, what’re you doing?”

“Hey.” Daniel smiled. “It’s you.”

“You call me the Harnee’s kid, and I reckon I’ll have to use lethal force.”

Daniel’s smile widened. “You messin’ with me, Bel?”

“I guess I am.”

Daniel stepped closer, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans and swinging his hips. “You wanna mess with me for real?”

“Maybe later,” Bel said. “Get in the back, and I’ll give you a ride home.”

“No, there’s fire there.” Daniel frowned. “And a pig’s head. And the bug spray, Bel.”

“You’re not making any sense.” Bel kept his voice even.

“And Kenny’s there. Wrote ‘faggot’ on the guy’s cock.”

Bel reached out and touched him gently on the shoulder. “None of that’s there.”

Daniel leaned into his touch. “Yeah, it is. Tonight it is.” He pulled his hands out of his pocket. “I burned my hands.”

Bel took his hand. “What’d you do?”

“Burned ’em.”

Bel squinted at the wound on Daniel’s hand in the gloom. “This isn’t a burn. This is blood.”

“I don’t wanna go back,” Daniel said. “Kenny’s there.”

The vigil. Maybe tonight, Kenny was there, whenever Daniel closed his eyes.

“Okay,” Bel said. “You want to stay at my place tonight?”

“Yeah,” Daniel said. He leaned his head on Bel’s shoulder. “Wanna go home.”

Bel stroked his hair, staring off at the roadside. “Where’s home, Daniel?”

“Dunno.”

“Get in the back,” Bel said gently. “Lie down on the seat and I’ll take you to my place.”

Last thing anyone needed was for someone to spot Daniel in the back of a police car tonight. Not when the whole town was saying prayers for Kenny Cooper.

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