Page 49 of Unhinged Kallie

He was always so methodical. I loved my dad, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wished he wasn’t who he was. At least with Uncle Abel, you knew how he felt and what he was thinking, but with my dad…I struggled, and I thought I knew him better than anyone. Well, other than my mom. God, I missed her. She would know exactly how to deal with Dad.

“I’m talking about Taylor from my school. You know the football captain that has been missing for days.”

He shrugged. “What about him?”

“What do you mean? What about him?”

“Ask your question, Kallie. This beating around the bush is tiresome.”

I threw my hands up. “Fine, why did you kill Taylor? I had everything handled.”

It took everything in me not to yell and stomp my feet as he pulled out a jug of cleaner and rubber gloves.

“Tell me something, Angel. Why do you think I had anything to do with this Taylor’s disappearance, and if I did, why would I have done something to him?”

My mouth opened and closed. Shit. What if it wasn’t him? Then I would have to tell him what I did to the football team. I assumed he knew, but now I wasn’t so sure. Dammit.

“Are you going to answer or look like a koi fish breathing all evening?” He smirked as he pulled on the gloves and poured cleaner on the bloody table.

“Dad…why are you always like this? Can’t you just tell me for once? Why does everything have to be a lesson?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

My father stood up straight and gave me the full weight of his even and unyielding stare. “Alright. Yes, I killed Taylor. His body is disposed of, and he suffered. I made sure his death was excruciatingly painful.”

“I knew it,” I growled. “So what am I supposed to do now?”

“You do what you always do. You go to school like normal. There is no evidence to find, so if someone asks you if you’ve seen Taylor, you say no.”

I shook my head, annoyed that he swooped in and took the joy of my payback. “You can’t kill everyone who is mean to me, Dad!”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Is that why you think I killed him?”

“Well, why else? I doubt it would be because of Carter,” I said, realizing that some of what Carter had been saying was right. If my dad thought Carter was a threat, he would kill him in a blink. Shit. That was a revelation for another time.

“I did it because he was going to expose who and what you are. Which would also put me, your Uncle Abel, Aunt Aspen, Troy, Talon, and Bo all at risk.” He held up his fingers as he named everyone. “It would even put Carter at risk of being interrogated or jailed depending on what warrants they could get. We no longer have your Mom to safeguard and act as a buffer between what we do and the authorities, and you put us all in those crosshairs with your revenge stunt.”

“That’s impossible. I was careful,” I said.

“Not. Careful. Enough.” His glare somehow intensified, and I stepped back from the table. Even though his tone never changed, anger burned in his eyes. “How do you think Taylor always knew the latest gossip about the other students?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I just assumed he talked to people all the time.”

“And what do I tell you about assuming?”

I nibbled my bottom lip. “Rule number thirty-two, never assume anything. Always make sure you know the facts.”

“Exactly.” Grabbing a small scrub brush, he swirled it around in the cleaner and sanitized the table. “Taylor had a camera hidden in the air exchange. He recorded everything said in the men’s locker room and watched the girls change in the women’s.”

“Son of a bitch, what a pig,” I growled, but it made sense, and I hated that I didn’t think to check for cameras or listening devices.

“Yes, he was. He planned to repay the favor by sending the video to the police. Luckily I stepped in and stopped him before he could. I also removed the cameras and stole his laptop from home.”

Backing up and leaning against the wall, I shuddered at the thought of coming so close to being caught with my first mission. This was all me, other than the part Troy played, and I screwed it up.

“How did you find out?”

“Because I always know my enemy. I keep telling you that knowing your enemy is key to any situation. The moment he hit you, I looked into him. I searched his home and learned his passwords. I watched him sleep and went through his binders. I became him. I understood him so I could effectively kill him. Also, did you think I wouldn’t notice half of my lye missing?” He snorted. “Rookie mistake. I would’ve given it to you if you asked. I also would’ve helped you ensure the other mistakes didn’t happen, but you seem keen to believe that you now know everything.”

“I just wanted to do this on my own. To prove I’m as good as Troy and can be as good as you.”