“What?”

“I mean, instead of at the Cowboy Saloon. All those other people around. Wasn’t natural, you know.”

No, she didn’t know.

“Well,” Kayleigh said uncertainly.

He grew somber. “I’m really sorry about Bobby. I know you guys were close. You went out, right?”

What an actor he was! Sorry? You killed him!

And then she reflected, Wait, how does he know Bobby and I were close?

“Yeah, thanks. He was a good friend.”

“Friend. Yeah.”

“It’s pretty tough.”

“Oh, it’s gotta be.” His face screwed up like a funeral director’s. “I feel so bad for you.”

“And all his other friends and family,” Kayleigh reminded, trying to keep an edge from her voice.

“Sure. Do the police have any leads?”

You prick.

Pull out the gun and blow the motherfucker away. Put the knife in his hand later.

But, no. Be smart.

“I don’t think so.”

“You want to get that iced tea?” he asked. “Your fave?”

She said, “I really can’t. I better get back.”

“I love you, Kayleigh.” He said this casually as if he were saying the earth is round, or the dollar is U.S. currency.

“Well—”

“It’s okay. I know the situation. I’m amazed they let you out on the town by yourself.”

“They?”

“You know who I mean. Everybody … from the song. Everyone wants a piece of your soul.” He was exhaling hard, shaking his head, “I worry about you so much.”

Insane. Pathetic and completely insane.

Now! If you wait any longer you won’t be able to do it.

“Hey, let me give you something.”

“You have something for me?” he asked, surprised.

She stepped forward, smiling, convinced that as she got close she’d be overwhelmed by a repulsive smell but all she could detect was faint deodorant or aftershave. Was it what her father used? Okay. That’s weird.

Kayleigh reached into her jacket and, gripping the knife blade, wrapped in tissue, she slipped the handle into his palm quickly. He instinctively closed his fingers around it. She backed up fast.

“What’s this, a pen?” he asked. Maybe thinking it was something for him to write her letters with.

Then he realized what it was.

Edwin’s smile faded. And he looked up to see the girl of his dreams holding a large revolver pointed at his chest. She pulled the hammer back. It seated with a loud click.

Chapter 40

THE KNIFE DROOPED in his hand, his eyelids and shoulders sagged too. “Kayleigh … no.”

“Don’t move.”

“Oh, Kayleigh.” Smiling again but sorrowfully. “Do you know what kind of trouble you’ll get into, you do this?”

She stayed strong.

“This’d be terrible. So terrible. Don’t do this to yourself. Please! Think of your fans, think of your family.” As if he was genuinely worried for her, not himself. “It’s the first thing the police’ll look for, setting me up. They won’t want to believe you did it, they’ll hope it isn’t true, but the deputies have been there before. It happens all the time. Domestic, stalking … It happens all the time.”