The crunching of bone stopped because there was no bone left to break in that spot. 20 21 I forced myself to listen to every single number. I etched each one into my brain. Every number was a promise. Every number was a debt I would collect. 30 31. Victor let out a long breath. The metal hammer clattered to the floor.
That’s enough. Victor said she’s done. Is she dead? Kyle asked. Doesn’t matter. Victor replied. If she lives, she’s a vegetable. If she dies, we bury her. Either way, she can’t talk. Clean the hammer. Get the bleach. Make it look like a breakin. Break the back door lock. What about Hunter? Dominic asked. He’s coming back tonight.
Let him come, Victor laughed. It was a cold, dry sound. He’s a soldier. He follows orders. He respects authority. I’ll talk to the chief of police. We’ll spin a story. Hunter will be too busy crying to ask questions. And if he does, well, accidents happen to soldiers all the time. The recording ended. I sat in the silence for a long time.
