Slenderman by CeeRee Fields (good novels to read TXT) 📗

He remembered Rian telling him that last year when they hit the number. His brother had been so excited to see his group grow.

“Yes, but Evan says only about fifty have left either the game or the clan, and those are who we’re focusing on first.”

Rhys’s hand clamped around hers. “You said two of them were kids.”

Her fingers laced with his. “Yeah.”

“Christ, Jo.”

She pressed a kiss to shoulder and leaned her head on it. “Trust me. Rian only gave us a list. That’s it.”

“I asked Carl and Joseph to help me set up a security system.”

Jo sipped from her wine. “I know, Mom told me.”

“I need both of you to be safe. I’ve given up on hovering over you because you’d go nuts. And I have to trust you to take care of yourself. But Rian . . . he’s innocent, Jo.”

“I know, hon. I swear. The list is all we’ve asked from him.”

Rhys wanted to believe her, but there were always questions where the answers would be easier gained by those, she knew rather than trying to find another source. “What happens if you have questions about the game?”

“You remember Franklin’s son, Kyle?”

“You know I do. You’re older than me so I’d be more worried about your memory than mine.” He teased.

She chuckled. “Just checking. Kyle’s always disappearing whenever I come into a room—”

“Maybe because you were going to arrest his dad and now you tease him constantly about his all black clothing choices.”

“Could be. So he stays in the room with you when you go?”

“He does, though he’s usually chatting with Rian about games.”

“Figures,” she mumbled in her wine.

Rhys and Rian had standing invitations to their murder mysteries. It was odd, Rian hated police dramas on television. He had nightmares because of them, but the murder mysteries he was fine with. He said it was because he knew how it all worked. Apparently, Kyle had walked Rian through every aspect of how the skit was set up so the kid wouldn’t be freaked out. Rhys appreciated Kyle for taking the time to do that. “When did you talk to Kyle? And what’s he got to do with Rian’s game?”

“Ian, Redden, and I met with Franklin the other day about the weapon. Come to find out Kyle plays Legends of Stone and is setting me up with a friend of his that left Rian’s group and joined Kyle’s.”

He should’ve known she would understand. Sometimes her attention would narrow in on a case, and she would be blind to everything but finding the culprit. He was glad to have that worry put to rest. “Thank you.” The tension released from Rhys’s muscles and he sipped from his wine. The fruity flavor was pleasant now that he could taste it. “How close are these victims to Rian and Evan?”

Her fingers tightened around his. “Well, based on what Rian and Evan could give us, all twelve of our victims are tied to Rian’s clan.”

His heart stuttered and he coughed, the wine going down the wrong pipe. “All of them?”

Her thumb raked back and forth over his. “We still need to sort the list of people who just quit playing and those that are dead to find the link on why they were chosen. It’s taking time because none of us are gamers. To top that off Evan’s list doesn’t have real names, so we’ve had to sort them and get the IP address in order for Redden to find the US citizens affected. He can only check up on the people who live in the States.” She lifted her glass and took another sip. “Ian is calling a contact at Scotland Yard who works in the cyber division that owes him a favor. He’s hoping the company will give us more details with the fifty names. Then he’ll work with his Interpol connections to touch base on the international people on the list. Which all takes time.”

“Backup. You all think there are more victims out there?” Rhys’s mind spun as he realized they wouldn’t have known any of this if the Alabama victims weren’t tied to Jo.

“It makes sense. This is a serial killer who has an agenda. It’s why I’ll be talking to Kyle’s friend. I’ll try to figure out how the victims are being chosen while Redden and Ian are working the IP angle. We know whoever is killing them considers the people ‘Betrayers.’“

“How?”

“The weapon is the same one used to kill Julius Caesar in the play, to top that off the killer leaves thirty pieces of silver—”

“Like Judas.”

“Exactly. Kyle’s friend will hopefully shed some light for us because that much planning combined with the rage we’ve seen in the stabbings. They have to be expressing it on the game too.”

“What happens if Kyle’s friend is the serial killer?” Rhys lifted his glass and downed the wine in a gulp, not tasting it at all.

“No.”

“No? How no? If you start asking questions the serial killer will know—”

“Kyle’s guy left the group a few years ago. I think the killer is still in the clan. It’s also why I don’t want to talk to anyone ranked in Rian’s chat.” Jo lifted the bottle and refilled his glass. “Besides, if he warns them in the clan then Sullivan and I will arrest him on pot charges. It might be legal in some states, but Alabama is not one of them yet. And from what we’ve gathered he has enough to be a distributor, which is a felony. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”

“You’re scary.”

Jo patted his leg. “Only to the bad guys, hon.”

“Okay, so the guy associates these people who leave with Judas and Caesar because both betrayed those they should have protected. So the killer feels the victims should die as Judas and Caesar did for their betrayal.”

Jo nodded. “He leaves notes too, signed S13nderman.”

“Like a gamer’s handle.”

“Exactly, but it’s not on any list attached to Rian’s group nor to the twelve victims’ groups. There are several Slendermans listed but none with