"And that is why life is so good." He found the file he was looking for and handed it to Nell. "This one is my very first felony."
Derek wasn't going to pretend that he didn't see horror flicker in Nell's face for half a second as she looked at the document. "Triple homicide?" She breathed.
He made an affirmative sound of contentment.
----------
Nell was, obviously, disturbed by what she read. She was not too surprised though. She knew the Afterdark well enough to be aware that murder was everyday when he was involved. The photographs of the bodies--which appeared to have been pulverized by some kind of sledgehammer--served to remind her that she was lucky.
"Thanks, by the way."
"For what?" he made a face.
"For letting me use your bed." Nell was not comfortable saying out loud the real reason she was thanking him. She was grateful that he had lent her the use of his bed, yes, but she was also grateful that that had been the only thing he'd done. The fact that she had been sleeping didn't matter much, he could easily have overpowered her at any time last night.
The Afterdark caught her implication and nodded once. "You shouldn't get yourself so exhausted that you practically pass out at the table. It's just not smart, Nell. And you shouldn't be so trusting. Especially towards people like me--I mean, Jesus Christ. For all you know, my actions up until now have been an act and my intentions are actually to toss you into a back room and skin you alive."
Derek wasn't going to pretend that he didn't see horror flicker in Nell's face for half a second as she looked at the document. "Triple homicide?" She breathed.
He made an affirmative sound of contentment.
----------
Nell was, obviously, disturbed by what she read. She was not too surprised though. She knew the Afterdark well enough to be aware that murder was everyday when he was involved. The photographs of the bodies--which appeared to have been pulverized by some kind of sledgehammer--served to remind her that she was lucky.
"Thanks, by the way."
"For what?" he made a face.
"For letting me use your bed." Nell was not comfortable saying out loud the real reason she was thanking him. She was grateful that he had lent her the use of his bed, yes, but she was also grateful that that had been the only thing he'd done. The fact that she had been sleeping didn't matter much, he could easily have overpowered her at any time last night.
The Afterdark caught her implication and nodded once. "You shouldn't get yourself so exhausted that you practically pass out at the table. It's just not smart, Nell. And you shouldn't be so trusting. Especially towards people like me--I mean, Jesus Christ. For all you know, my actions up until now have been an act and my intentions are actually to toss you into a back room and skin you alive."
