Sweet Things Dying - Chapter XXIII

In the newest instalment, Cole faces the consequences for his confrontation with the Reverend Bloom...

XXIII

Wet snowflakes fell, leaving the pavement greasy underfoot. Steam curled off the fresh horseshit on Commercial Street where Cole paused to light a cigarette. He sucked in a lungful of blessed smoke.

“What will happen to Paul Wright?”

The small, sharp voice caught him by surprise. He turned, found Milly wrapped in a heavy shawl and bonnet. She stood at his heels and blinked up at him.

“Did your old dad send you to see me off?” he asked.

“Hardly.”

“How did you get out?”

“I sneaked out the backdoor and down the lane. The whole house is disturbed right now thanks to you. No one saw me go.”

“They’ll know soon enough.”

“Then stop wasting time and answer my question.”