Chapter Forty-Eight Aubrey
Chapter Forty-Eight
Aubrey
I watched the car zoom out of the driveway. There was nothing covert about the ladies’ actions now. No more secrets. They
came right for me. For the house. For the shadow in the window.
A rumbling sounded behind me. I turned in time to see the warped family portrait at the top of the stairs open. One of the
secret passageways in the falling-down wreck of a house. Dad loved the drama of hidden hallways. I thought they were lame
until I was about seven and figured out I could sneak in there and listen in on conversations in other rooms. A forbidden
act, which was why I used to do it. My mom would yell and she’d scold my father for not paying attention. His way of watching
me was to order me outside.
A figure emerged from the opening. Dressed all in black, including the baseball cap. He jogged down the stairs and stopped
next to me.
Gabe. Not his real name. The one he’d assumed when he was ready to step into the world again.
“That was close.”
He’d caused the problem. Interesting how he didn’t apologize for the mess I now had to clean up. “Too close. Be smarter.”
“They’re nosy.”
He wasn’t wrong but I explained anyway. “They’re panicked, which means they’ll take chances. Make bad decisions.”
“That was the plan, right? Bring them back to the scene of the crime.”
“It’s too early for them to know about you.” I tried to read his expression. “Why did you hit her?”
“She started moving around the house.” He shrugged. “I tried to duck out of sight but couldn’t move fast enough. I worried
she’d discover the sliding panel in the back of the pantry and make it harder for me to move around.”
“She didn’t.”
“At least they’ll be afraid now and will stay away.”
I rolled my eyes because come on. How did men know so little about women? I’d been isolated. Purposely kept away from others, biding my time. But I watched
people. Programs on television. If I understood human nature, so should he. And he should react better. I taught him better.
“Hanna is not the type to back down. She’ll return, looking for her kid.” I didn’t hate the idea. Something about her, the
inner strength and her love for Jeremy. I didn’t understand the last part, but it was intriguing to watch from a distance.
“I’ll control her access. Usher her in. Take her where I need her to go. Let her see what I need her to see, so she can play
her role.”
“Until then we wait?”
“And you stay hidden.” My patience pulled and stretched but did not break. Waiting a few more days sounded easy compared to
fifteen years. But the end was coming. Just as I planned.