Page 85 of Unhinged Kallie

“Like the cake?”

His hand paused as he looked up at me. “Huh, I guess so.”

“I brought you a coffee,” I said, holding it out to him.

“Thank you, Angel.” He didn’t call me that much anymore, but hearing it made me feel good.

“So what did Sara-Lee do to end up on your table,” I asked, ignoring the muffled begging through a red ball gag.

My dad sipped his coffee and stared at me. He didn’t move for so long that I finally looked over my shoulder to see if someone was behind me.

“I’m not sure I should tell you,” he said.

I stared at the woman’s face and ran through all my memories, but she didn’t seem familiar.

“Did she do something to Carter,” I asked. My anger flashed instantly at the thought.

“In essence, she did something to all of us.”

I hated my dad’s riddles. They always sent my brain on a rollercoaster ride with many loops and twists meant to keep you guessing but no end. I shook my head and gulped down another mouthful of coffee. I needed more than one to deal with my dad this morning.

I changed tactics, “Why are you unsure you want to tell me?”

“Because you still have a volatile temper. You killed three people at a party, then another in a men’s shower.”

I swallowed hard. “How do you know that was me?” One eyebrow cocked in a look I knew all too well. “Okay, it was me,” I conceded. “But, they deserved it. That girl at the party roofied Carter and was going to take advantage of him. I needed to get him out of there, and the other girl threatened to go to the Dean and tell a bunch of lies if he didn’t fuck her.”

“The why does not matter. The how does. You’re still careless about where you leave the bodies. I don’t need you tearing off and doing something that I need to clean up after.”

My mouth fell open. “Have you been following me this entire time?”

“No, just enough to ensure you don’t get caught.”

“What does that mean?”

He waved his hand, dismissing the question, which worried me more. “The point is Sara-Lee here will anger you, and you’ve proven unpredictable when you’re—”

I held up my finger. “Don’t you dare say emotional.”

Sara-Lee started mumbling, and we both looked down at her. My dad sighed like he was annoyed with the woman. I thought he might lose his composure and stab her with his scalpel, but he undid the side of the gag and lifted it from her mouth.

“I promise I won’t make you angry. I don’t know why he wants me.”

My dad snatched her chin, and she whimpered as he squeezed hard. “Do not lie to my daughter, or I will call my brother over, and trust me, you do not want his brand of punishment.” He placed the scalpel on her quivering upper lip. “Maybe I should start by cutting off your pretty lips. You can live without those.”

“Dad, what did she do? I don’t care if you kill her, but there is obviously something I need to know.”

He rolled out his shoulders and released Sara-Lee’s head. “Fine, but if you go off….”

“I won’t, I promise.” I held up my hand as he opened his mouth. “Yes, I know. Don’t promise things you cannot guarantee. Fine, I will do my very best not to have a full meltdown. Happy?”

“Not overly comforted, but it will do.”

He wiped his tool off and placed it on his tray of toys, then leaned back on the counter. I wanted to scream as he picked up his coffee and sipped.

“Sara-Lee works for the FBI. More specifically, she was your mother’s assistant.”

I glanced at the table, my heart beating a little faster. Her hazel eyes stared back, filled with tears, but under that was terror and regret. I could see it as easily as a drug dog could sniff out product in a million crates.