Chapter 13
Chapter 13:
The foul, brown sludge arced through the air and splashed directly onto the bed — over the pillows, over the sheets, and squarely across Aspen’s chest and face.
“Agh!” Aspen screamed, thrashing as the cold, putrid water hit her. The smell filled the room instantly — sulfur and dead plant matter.
Kieran wiped a splatter of brown slime from his cheek. His face turned a violent shade of purple.
“Are you insane?” he roared, stepping toward her. “You crazy bitch p>
Jocelyn didn’t flinch. She stepped back and pulled her phone from her pocket. Her hands were trembling, but she dialed with precision.
𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘯
“Biohazard Cleaning Services, how can I help you?” a voice chirped on the other end.
Jocelyn held Kieran’s gaze without blinking.
“I need a Level Three bio-decontamination crew at the Wolfe Estate. East wing, second floor. Everything is contaminated. I need it all gone. Now p>
“Excuse me, ma’am? Level Three is for —” the operator began, confused.
“Just bring the industrial-grade bleach,” Jocelyn said. “And the incinerators. The room’s contents have been compromised by pests p>
She hung up.
“Get out,” she said to Kieran. “You’re trespassing p>
“You can’t kick us out,” Kieran sneered, wiping his face with his sleeve. “Your mother p>
“My mother is a guest,” Jocelyn cut him off. “I’m the owner. And I’m evicting the trash p>
Aspen was gagging, trying to wipe the sludge from her skin with the ruined sheet.
Jocelyn turned her back on them and walked to the bookshelf. Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled down the three Hemingway books — the only things in the room that hadn’t been touched.
The door to the hallway burst open. Elouise Stein stood there in her silk robe, her face a mask of shock.
“What is that smell?” she demanded. Then she saw Kieran, wet and furious, and Aspen covered in slime.
Elouise’s hand flew up. She marched toward Jocelyn, arm raised to strike.
Jocelyn caught her mother’s wrist in midair.
It was the first time she had ever physically stopped her. Elouise gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Don’t,” Jocelyn whispered. Her grip was tight. “Do not touch me. If you do, I will have your residency rights revoked by sunset p>
Elouise went still. She looked at her daughter’s face and saw a stranger. The pliable, desperate girl was gone.
Jocelyn released her wrist with a firm shove.
“You have five minutes to get your guests out of my house,” she said. “The cleaning crew is on their way p>
She clutched the books against her chest and walked out, leaving the stench of rot and the sound of Aspen’s retching behind her.
The truck that rumbled up the driveway twenty minutes later was bright yellow and emblazoned with the words “EXTREME CLEANING CREW — CRIME SCENE & HAZARD SPECIALISTS p>
It was aggressive. It was loud. It was perfect.
Jocelyn stood on the front steps with her arms crossed. The wind had picked up, biting through her thin blouse, but the cold felt grounding. It kept her sharp.