I lay Sean’s sleeping body on Fiona’s bed. I had about eight hours to get done what I needed to. I didn’t want to have to knock him out a second time in one night; he’d be in bad shape if I did.

I rummaged through his pants pockets for his car key, which had a Hyundai logo. I’d had a feeling his previous car wasn’t worth repairing. Then, I pocketed his cellphone and the extra house key, which could come in handy.

“What did you do to him?” Rebecca asked.

“I just had to put him to sleep for a little while. I assure you he’ll be alright,” I said.

“But why?”

“Well… because he didn’t know it, but he was going to get himself in trouble. I’m helping him.”

“Are you going to leave him here until my mother gets home? Is she going to help him too?”

“He was going to get in trouble with your mother, so no—I won’t be asking her for help. I’ll take him with me shortly,” I said. “Can I ask another favor of you?”

“Yes.”

“If your mother knew he was in here, coming in while she wasn’t here with a secret key, then she’s going to be very upset with him. She probably won’t want Fiona to see him anymore.”

“I like Sean,” she said, concern in her voice.

“I thought you did. So please don’t tell her about him being here. Then no one will get in trouble.”

“So, I shouldn’t tell her you were here either?” she asked.

“You know, you’re right. That didn’t occur to me. You’re a smart girl,” I said.

“I know,” she said, confidently, making me smile. She sounded so much like Fiona just then.

I left Sean in Fiona’s room and went out the front door in search of his new car. As I traveled down the sidewalk, a tow truck was rounding the corner of the parking lot and driving away.

I clicked the button on the electronic key and saw the lights blink on a sedan in the first row, about ten cars down. It was close enough, so I wasn’t worried about moving it. Peering in through the driver’s window, I noticed a book bag in the passenger seat, probably containing the pictures Sean had mentioned. Then I clicked the button to pop the truck and found it empty. Another good thing.

I left the trunk open and sped back into the house. Inside Fiona’s closet, I found a spare comforter and used it to wrap up Sean’s body.

“We’ll talk again soon,” I told Rebecca and sped back to the car before anyone could get a good look at what I was doing.

I slammed the trunk door and gazed around to ensure I was in the clear. A woman was getting out of her minivan a few rows over, but she hadn’t even noticed me yet. An older couple was walking in my direction on the sidewalk, but they were talking to each other, not paying much attention to what else was going on. As they drew closer, the woman glanced over and smiled.

“Good evening,” I said to them both, and they both returned the pleasantry.

It seemed everything was going well so far, so I hopped into the driver’s seat and started the car—or tried to. The engine wouldn’t turn over; the battery seemed to be in the last throes of life.

It always has to be something! I cursed to myself, slamming my palms against the steering wheel almost hard enough to bend it.

I didn’t feel good about leaving Sean there, so I brought my Land Rover over and moved Sean’s wrapped body into my trunk. I’d have to retrieve his car later, but it was the last thing I needed to worry about. Last, I snatched the book bag from his front seat, then sped away in the direction of his house.

I’d been to his house numerous times before, especially during the time Fiona and he were dating. The best way to inconspicuously enter his house was through the side door, which led to the laundry room. If members of his family were home, then the door was usually unlocked. Unfortunately, I couldn’t easily get to his room from outside since it was on the second floor.

I brought the book bag with me as I leapt over the fence and crept through the side yard. There had been cars in the driveway, so that meant both of his parents were home. Sean also had two younger sisters—one a freshman and the other in junior high. One or both of them could also be home, but I didn’t have time to wait for everyone to go to bed.

The side door was open to let in the evening breeze and the screen door was unlocked. Listening for voices, I tried to determine where they were coming from in the house. No one seemed to be currently in the kitchen, just beyond the laundry room. I quietly crept inside and took one more inventory of the sounds from other rooms. No one seemed to notice or react to the creak from the screen door. The sound was probably so typical from family members going in and out, it didn’t raise alarm anymore.

I sprinted through the house and up the stairs, making it to Sean’s room in a few seconds flat. The clock was ticking and I didn’t have the luxury of wasting time, so I thoroughly scoured his room for anything that might have information related to me. I gathered his laptop, a tablet, external hard drive, several flash drives, and the rest of his stack of pictures that I assumed had been hanging on the walls. A few notebooks lay in a desk drawer, so I took them as well. I stuffed everything into the book bag and was ready to leave when I noticed a small figure standing in the doorway.

“Who’re you?” the girl asked. It was Sean’s youngest sister.

“No one you should remember,” I said, snatching the girl from the doorway, covering her mouth, then cutting off her airflow until she passed out. I didn’t have another syringe with me but wasn’t afraid of her waking up and telling her parents what she thought she saw.

I carried her limp body to her room and laid her on the floor behind the bed, so no one would notice her from the door. I tried not to focus on the fact I was getting hungry. I gazed down at her sweet, sleeping form and had to fight back the urge to bite into her creamy white neck.

It took all my willpower to resist, but I managed. Once again, I listened for others, determining where my obstacles were. When I was confident I’d accounted for everyone, I raced to get the book bag, then maneuvered my way out of the house, over the fence, and back to the street. I didn’t slow until I reached my SUV.

On the way to Sisters of Mercy, I gave Jack a call to make sure he was there and would be available to help me out.