Chapter 4Half a Severed Finger

Judging by the time, the air in the kitchen should be toxic enough. I spoke softly to Grace. "Stay here. I'm going to wash some fruit for you. I bought some sweet apples today."

Suddenly, her cool hand slipped around my forearm, holding me back. "No rush. Just sit with me for a bit. Listen to the rain. Doesn't it sound just like the old days?"

I glanced toward the kitchen door, then sat down beside her. She rested her head on my shoulder, falling silent. Occasionally, her fingers flicked against her lap, tapping out a slow rhythm to the falling rain. I looked down at her. Her unseeing eyes seemed to hold a soft, liquid light, gentler than the rain outside.

Another half hour slipped away as the drizzle tapered off.

She finally sat up, her fingers grazing my knee. "Go get that apple now. Be careful, though. Don't cut your finger like last time."

I patted her shoulder, stood up, and picked up the paring knife from the dining table. Taking a deep breath, I slipped into the kitchen.

I shut off the gas valve and threw the window wide open. After waiting two minutes for the fumes to clear, I yanked open the cabinet door.

The intruder was curled into a tight ball, his head slumped lifelessly against his knees. He was deeply unconscious, the bent lockpicking wire still clutched in his limp hand. The severed finger lay on the wooden floor right beside him.

To be absolutely sure, I wrapped the wire tightly around his neck and pulled.

Three minutes later, his chest stopped moving entirely.

Time to clean up.

I washed my hands thoroughly at the sink, grabbed an apple from the basket, peeled it, and brought the clean slices to Grace.

"I have to head out for a bit to handle a work emergency," I told her. "Go to bed when you're tired. Don't wait up for me."

She nodded, her voice tender. "Okay. Drive safe, and come back quickly."

I went back to the kitchen, stuffed the limp body into a large duffel bag, and secured the lock. I put the peephole back on the front door, slipping the severed finger back into its secret chamber. After helping Grace with her nightly routine and making sure she was tucked in and asleep, I quietly wheeled my heavy cargo out the door.