To Catch a Killer(41)

I throw back the covers and attempt to stand up. It’s a lot more difficult than it should be. The aftereffects of nearly getting killed have settled into my muscles and joints. This calls for a hot shower before dinner.

By the time I make my way downstairs, Spam has arrived and is setting the table while regaling Victor with stories of her online gaming escapades. She throws out words like “MMOG,” “first-person shooter,” “mezz,” “caster,” “noobs.” I shake my head. She’s wearing a black short jumper with the sleeves rolled up, and red-and-black-striped leggings that stop above the knee.

I worry that Victor will think she’s silly. But that’s not how he’s treating her. He’s talking to her the same way I saw him talk to Sydney.

“Okay. So then what’s an M-M-O-R-P-G?” he asks.

Spam goes to the cupboard where we keep the bowls, pulls out four, and ferries them over to the stove for Rachel to ladle out the food. “Massive multiplayer online role-playing game,” she says.

“The first M stands for massive?” he asks.

“Right,” she answers.

“Okay. And how is that different from a first-person shooter game?”

Spam brings a couple of bowls of steaming pasta drenched in a rich sauce to the table. She sets one in front of Victor and one in front of me. Then she takes the chair opposite Victor and waits while Rachel brings two more bowls of food.

“Well, a massive is a virtual online playing field where a huge number of players come together and play all at once. You see all the characters, like watching television. And one of those characters is yours to move around and do things with.”

Victor looks like he’s really interested in what Spam has to say. “And?” he says.

“And in a first-person shooter all you see of yourself is your hand and your weapon. Everything else is your prey.”

“Okay. I get it,” Victor says.

Rachel sets Spam’s dish in front of her and another in front of her own chair. Then she takes her seat, pausing to give me a quiet, simmering look. She hasn’t said much since she found out I left school with Journey. I’m pretty sure if Victor and Spam weren’t here right now, I’d be getting an earful.

“With whom do you play these online games? Friends from school?” Victor asks.

“Some are from school. But they could be from anywhere. It’s kind of cool, I’ve played with people from all over the world,” Spam says.

Victor frowns. “How do you know who you’re playing with?”

Spam shrugs. “Because it’s online, you never know exactly, I guess. The cool wizard dude could be some forty-year-old perv, which is why I never give out any personal info online.”

“Good. That’s what I was trying to find out. Smart girl,” Victor says. Then he turns to me. “Are you into this online gaming stuff, too?”

“No. Spam tried but I’m not that much of a dork.” I give Spam a smirk and she responds with a poisoned grin.

Victor looks pleased. “Perfect. Don’t suddenly get interested, okay?”

“I won’t. But why?”

Victor lays down his fork and looks at each of us as if considering what to say.

“It’s okay. You can tell them,” Rachel urges.

Victor leans forward, clasping his hands in front of him. “There are obvious reasons why I want to keep this between us. But the truth is, I’m not actually here on vacation. Rachel asked me to come to look into what happened to your teacher. She wanted to be sure it didn’t have anything to do with you. After today’s incident, well, let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m here.”

I gasp. Even though I know it’s probably true, hearing the words spill out of his mouth pretty much scares the crap out of me.

Rachel adds, “We’re not telling you this to worry you. I contacted Victor after Miss Peters’s murder because I was concerned. At the time, I thought I was just being my crazy, overprotective self. But now I’m not so sure. I don’t want to take any risks.”

“I’m glad you called him, Rachel. Journey and I need someone on our side.” My heart soars. Having Victor help us with the investigation will be the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

Rachel pauses, gnawing on her lip. “Let me be clear, Erin. This isn’t about sides. And it isn’t about you and Journey or even you versus Journey.…”

I get a sinking feeling that I know where this is going and I don’t like it.

“He’s already dealing with a troubling family situation,” she says.

“That doesn’t have anything to do with him,” I exclaim.

Rachel puts out her hand to calm the conversation. “I’m not saying it does … or doesn’t. I’m just saying that for now, this boy is off-limits outside of school. I don’t want you seeing him.”

Wow. She can’t be serious. Just when there might actually be a me and Journey, she wants me to stop seeing him. Separating me from him won’t solve anything, especially not Miss Peters’s murder.

Instead of answering her, I pick up my fork and begin pushing sauce and noodles around my plate. I can sense everyone’s gaze on me.

Spam reaches over and grabs my free hand, giving it a squeeze. “No sweat, Rachel. We don’t really hang out with him anyway, right, Erin?”