Chapter 63
Allison
I sit on the floor of the bedroom, panting. I almost can’t believe I did it.
I thought wrapping Finley would be the hardest part.
And it was difficult. Lifting up one side of him enough to shove the cloth beneath him.
Lifting him from the other side to pull the cloth through.
Repeating that process over and over to cover his entire body, though the legs were admittedly easier.
I got one wrap around him, not exactly mummy-like, but a start.
I used duct tape to fasten the cloth in the front.
Getting Finley onto the luggage cart was the single greatest physical challenge of my life.
I braced the cart against the dresser and forced him forward, a little at a time.
There were times I thought it wouldn’t happen.
But I got there. And I laid a second drop cloth on the cart, so that once I had him on there, I could wrap a second cloth over his front and duct-tape it closed.
Now I’m ready to roll the cart to the elevator—a small risk, to be sure, but my unit is close to the freight elevator, so I only need about thirty seconds’ worth of luck. Then I’ll be in the elevator down to the parking garage and ready to load Finley into the rear of his Wagoneer.
Before that, I have some additional cleaning to do.
I won’t wipe down every surface of the place.
That would look suspicious. They will know that Finley’s been living here a while.
They will know Grayson came to visit tonight.
They will know I came to visit earlier. And I plan to return tomorrow, under the guise of checking on things out of worry.
I will do enough to remove evidence of struggle. The fireplace, for example, will need to be cleaned up. I will double-check that the family room looks generally in order.
Oh, and before I forget, I open Finley’s phone to send a text message to Trinity:
I apologize for my behavior. Haven’t been myself lately. You didn’t deserve that. Stressed about that thing I have to do tonight but that’s no excuse.
I hit send. Trinity will have no context for this. It will freak her the hell out. But I’m saving her ass. This proves Finley was alive as of…9:47 p.m. Long after she left the unit.
You’re welcome, Trinity.