Chapter 65

“Nothing for me, thanks,” Chris said.

Valerie patted James’s arm. Behind her, two brown recliners were nestled in the corners under the windows. She grabbed her tan purse from the one on the right and then left the room.

Chris held James’s hand, careful of the monitor attached to James’s finger. “How do you feel?”

“Okay,” James said. “Pretty numb right now. Arm should be okay, though.”

“That’s good.”

“Are you okay?”

Chris shrugged. “Today’s been exhausting,” he said. “Skinner questioned me twice. I think he hates me.”

James smiled. “He doesn’t.”

“He seemed to be up to something.”

“You just stay close to Dylan and Ron,” James said. “Let me worry about what Skinner is doing.”

“I wish you’d tell me what’s going on.”

“Don’t worry about him,” James whispered.

“Did you text him this morning about us going to Kedlin’s?”

“Yes.”

“What if he’s the one—”

“Trust me,” James said. “I know what I’m doing. I thought we needed backup today, so I let him know.”