Page 61 of Stranger Danger

“Right fucking now, bunny,” he says.

I blink furiously through the tears and snap my head back to Dave. He sets the bat on the bed, both hands in the nightstand drawer—

There’s no second chance.

My ankle screams when I yank it out of Beckett’s hand, my skin tearing under his gloves, but I push past it. Push past the fear and sob stuck in my throat.

I launch myself at the bat.

Find the handle where he left it on the mattress.

Swing it hard with both hands like I’m trying to hit a grand slam.

The wood connects with the side of Dave’s head with a sound like a melon dropped on concrete. He staggers, one hand still in the drawer, and I hit him again. And again. His blood arcs across my mask and through the eyeholes, stinging worse than acetic acid. The third time, his skull cracks beneath the impact and he goes down, knees first, then face-forward into the carpet.

Jesus.

Fucking.

Christ.

I exhale all the air in my body so fast that my head swims. My heart’s going a mile a minute.

His limp hand pulls the drawer free with a shriek of wood, contents spilling—handcuffs clattering, a magazine thudding.

Something flips over on top of my sneaker. When I glance down, it’s his badge. The black case is open, bright gold shield reflecting in my face.

Eunice Police.

Patrol Officer.

070826.

My arms are shaking like crazy. I drop the bat, and it rolls under the bed.

“Shit,” Beckett grumbles from behind me. “My blood’s everywhere.”

I choke out the strangest, highest-pitched laugh I’ve ever heard. It doesn’t sound like me. I’m not sure I still feel like me.

The badge is the only thing I can see.

“His, too.”

“Did he hit you?” he asks.

“Nah.” My smile cracks under my mask, and my sweat and tears and Dave’s blood all taste like salt. “I’m way faster than your slow ass.”

I hear his back hit the floor. He inhales the same rattling, bloody noise, and I grit my teeth until my throat feels like it’s going to burst.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

My sob finally breaks free. “You d-didn’t want to do this, and I… I kind of forced it.”

“Hey—”

“I know I’m right. We never would’ve picked this place otherwise.” I pull the bunny mask up to wipe my face with my arm. “I panicked.”

Something touches my shoulder.