How to Kill Men and Get Away With It by Katy Brent

Author:Katy Brent [Brent, Katy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

38

COLLINS’ CUTS SLAUGHTERHOUSE, HAMPSHIRE

I get a text from Charlie around mid-morning asking me if he can come over to talk. I’m halfway through putting the remains of Niall through the grinder when my phone beeps and I manage to smear blood over the screen as I tap out a reply.

‘Sure, I’ll be home after lunch xx’

‘See you then.’

No kisses.

I know this isn’t a good sign and I’m going to have to come up with something convincing to explain what was going on last night.

Charlie arrives at around 2pm and he doesn’t return my smile when I open the door.

This is worse than I thought.

‘Do you want a drink?’ I ask, leading him through to the kitchen. ‘I’ve got some vegan sushi that I was just about to have if you want to share …?’

He sits down at the kitchen island and shakes his head.

The silence between us ripples with tension. I can tell it’s not the good kind either.

I sit opposite him and steel myself for what’s coming next.

‘This is about last night, isn’t it?’

He nods. ‘I’m not an idiot, Kitty. It was quite obvious you had a man here.’

I open my mouth to say something but he cuts me off.

‘I know we’ve not said anything about being exclusive, but it made me feel jealous. I hated it. And I hated that you lied. Although I shouldn’t have dropped over unannounced.’

‘It’s not what you think …’ I start, cringing at the cliché.

‘It doesn’t matter,’ he sighs. ‘What matters is that it drove me mad, thinking about you here with another man. About what you were doing in here.’

An image of Niall’s head lolling lifelessly to one side with a knife sticking out of his neck pops into my mind and I almost laugh.

‘Anyway,’ Charlie continues, ‘I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not ready for this. I like you, Kitty, a lot. But I’m just not at a point where I can risk myself getting hurt. And you obviously aren’t ready to be involved with someone seriously. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can see you again. I just wanted to speak to you face to face. Not be a dick about it.’

I don’t know what to say. What does one say while getting dumped?

‘It really wasn’t what you think,’ I try.

‘So, tell me then?’

I shake my head. ‘I can’t.’

‘If I’m with someone, I’m all in,’ he says. ‘I don’t do half measures or open relationships or anything like that.’

I nod.

Charlie leans in and kisses me on the cheek. ‘Be happy, Kits.’

And then he’s gone.

Ten minutes later, my phone beeps and I look to see that I’ve got a message on Insta.

‘Boo hoo for you. At least this one escaped with his life.’

The Creep. With the excellent timing only an internet stalker can pull off. I try to ignore the rising fear that someone, somewhere seems to know every move I make.

I spend the rest of the day in bed, with a bottle of wine.

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