Give It All by Cara McKenna Read Free Book Online Page A

days.
    “Understood?” Flores asked, taking the paper back.
    “It’s neither here nor there. I’ve nothing to hide,” Duncan lied. He’d very much like to hide all traces of his mental issues, for his pride more than anything—under this warrant, Duncan’s meds and cleaning supplies and any other oddities were none of Flores’s concern. Still, they probably wouldn’t help matters.
    They headed outside, where the deputy climbed into a beige cruiser. The sun was far too bright and cheerful, Duncan decided.
    “I have a cat in my room,” he told Flores. “Upset her and I’ll be very cross.”
    Flores unlocked his car. “A cat?”
    “Yes, a cat. She’s been specially trained to digest human skeletal remains and I’ve secreted thousands of dollars inside her.”
    Flores’s smile dropped. “Don’t get cute with me, Welch. I’d prefer not to form any biased opinions about you.” They climbed into the car and buckled up, not speaking until the three of them were at Duncan’s door.
    “I’m coming in to put my cat into her carrier,” he said to Flores and Ritchey as he unlocked his room. “She’s not good with strangers.”
    Flores nodded to tell him to go ahead.
    “She’ll be less likely to panic and lacerate me if you let me go in alone.”
    Flores shook his head, no surprise.
    “Fine.” Duncan preceded the others, and managed to wrangle Astrid into her carrier with Deputy Ritchey’s help, both ofthem suffering the consequences. He offered her his stiff thanks, then turned to Flores. “Please be sure to lock up behind you, and leave the cat where she is. My car keys are in the desk drawer—do lock that as well. I’ll be at the diner for the next hour. I imagine you’ve already got my mobile number?”
    “I do.” Flores fished in a pocket and handed Duncan a business card. “And now you’ve got mine. Don’t leave town without contacting me first.”
    Duncan’s eyes narrowed. “Why not just clamp an ankle tracker on me?”
    “Don’t tempt me. Take care of yourself, Duncan. We’ll chat real soon.”
    “I’ll count the moments.”
    Flores rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the room.
    As Duncan exited and aimed himself downtown, he felt his very identity being peeled from his being, falling in tattered strips like a ruined costume, like flayed skin. The sensation was so painful all he could think of was how to stop it. How to stop feeling, to go numb.
    All in good time.
He needed to call his bosses first, to know if he still had a job. A scrap of anything definitive that he could cling to, to keep him suspended above this pit of steaming shit.
    The sunshine was hot on his hair, too bright in his eyes. He walked a block down Railroad Ave and took out his phone, cued up his boss’s number. His thumb wavered above the CALL button. One push, and he’d find out if he still had a job—still had a purpose, an identity, any roots at all still linking him to the ground, to his sanity. And his sanity had never been completely under control.
    He hit the power button, and the screen darkened. He pocketed the phone neatly, then strode to the nearest stand of scrubby trees and was sick.

Chapter 5
    Benji’s was bustling—Raina’s favorite kind of Friday night, when it felt as though half the town were in attendance. Felt like an impromptu Desert Dogs club meeting as well—minus Miah.
    Both Grossier brothers were loitering at the bar, always the picture of contrast. Vince was older, taller, more thickly muscled behind his dark tee, with black hair, and black ink on his neck and arms, hazel eyes. His little brother wasn’t quite so big, overall—not quite six feet—and fair, with coppery, overgrown hair and a red beard any Viking would be proud of. They both wore old jeans and boots, but Casey was sporting one of his usual plaid button-ups. On Vince’s other side was his girlfriend, Kim, who looked like the Portlandian she was, dressed in stylish, casual clothes and trendy glasses, dark