Red’s body turned a little to the side. “What are you haranguing me for? Do you want something from me or not?”
Emma put an elbow on the table, twisting her torso sideways. “I’m trying to get to know South Alderney. I need to know the people around here if I’m going to protect them. It’s not been a good few days for you all, has it?”
Red lowered his voice. “What the hell are you going on about?”
Emma smiled and leaned in closer.
“Red, can I ask you a personal question?”
He sighed. “I suppose so?”
“Why do you pretend that Sarah is still alive?”
“What?”
“I know she’s dead.” Emma looked back at him with the same expression of shock, then waved around the room. “Everyone else knows she’s dead.” Jessie sneaked a look of horror through the backroom door before retreating. “And you know she’s dead. Been dead.”
“What the fuck are you going on about? If something happened to my Sarah, come out with it. Otherwise, pull your head in.”
“I’m not trying to tell you anything you don’t already know. I’m just asking questions. Is there some reason why it makes you nervous when I ask questions?”
Anger ricocheted between their eyes. Red stared at her, like he was waiting for something. When it didn’t come, he pushed away from the table and stood up.
“I don’t know what stupid shit this is, but when Ned gets back, I’m going to make sure he knows you’ve been telling lies to frighten people.” He left The Rock by the front door, at one point holding on to the bar to steady himself.
Emma watched him go, then leaned back as far as she could on the stool. She closed her eyes, gave a long sigh, and smiled. Jessie was staring at her when she opened her eyes. Emma grabbed Red's beer as she stood up and finished it in one gulp. As she walked past Jessie, she put the empty glass on the bar without looking. It hung halfway over the edge.
“I think there's a leaky faucet in one of the top floor rooms. Be a dear and have a look at it?”
She walked out the door and looked up and down the street.
“Surprising how quickly that man can move when he wants to.”
Around the corner and four houses down. The one with the white door, narrow windows, and dead flowers on the kitchen table. She ambled up the street, swinging each leg like a pendulum.
“What are you afraid of, Red? Not sure what will be left of you when you run out of lies?”
In her mind she ran through innumerable scenarios in which Red would live his life in peace. Hobbies, friends, the occasional good cry. But she saw every branch of the path in front of him, better than he could see it himself. She knew which path led the other way. It was a matter of gentle nudges in the right direction, some so subtle he wouldn't even notice them.
Who would it be that mourned for Red, when the time came? Darren, perhaps? Or Jessie?
Her feet came to a stop on the uneven ground. She jerked her body forward to prevent smacking her face into the street.
“Stop it.”
“Oh, we've decided we're good people now, have we?”
“Stop doing that. I don’t have to be a saint to not want to hurt anyone.”
Emma felt her mouth pull back at the corners.
“I couldn't agree more. Only monsters talk about good people and bad people. What does that make you?”
“I'm not a monster.”
“You can't lie to me, murderer.”
“Fuck you, I haven't killed anyone.”
“Then what is that waiting for you back at the hotel? Who is responsible?”
“What are you talking about?” There was no response. “What? Do you mean David? What did you do? If you hurt him, I swear to God...”
Emma's voice rose until it ended in a choking laugh.
“Why don't you go back and check on him? After all, you are responsible for him.”
Emma could feel her feet in the cold night wind. They didn't budge.
“That's what I thought.”
“He's fine!”
“As you say, liar. It was clever of him, taking your place. He saved your life. But you didn’t give him much choice, did you, chasing after something so dangerous? Do you want to know what he said to me at the end?”
“I didn't kill anyone! I’m not like you!”
“What are you like, then? Let’s find out exactly. I wish all the world’s liars were exposed, don’t you? You lied to David so you could bring him here to die.”
Emma tried to clench her hands into fists. She could barely feel her fingers.
“Am I wrong? Do I have the gist of it?”
She couldn't move her eyes, but she could see that the street was empty, and the curtains of the houses were closed. She knew who was asleep and who was pretending to sleep. No one could see her. No one could hear her. But she could hear her own voice mocking her.
“Alright, liar, maybe we won't start with you. Maybe we start with your friend Red. Why should you be the only monster who gets punished, hm?”
“I won't let you win.”
“Who are you talking to? Me? How do you know I’m even here? Have I told you anything you didn’t already know? Has anyone else confirmed that you’re not just talking to yourself?
“Alright, I’m only kidding. But as for ‘win,’ you’ve got it all wrong. I’m here to help. I'm the truth you already know. The truth about everyone, about yourself. I'm here for you, not for me.”
“I'm not a monster I'm a human being I'm not a monster I'm a human being...”
“This is fun. I've never noticed much of a difference, and neither have you. Tell me. And try to be honest for once. When you’re not trying to feel
