Chapter Twenty-Eight
Iwas inthe kitchen, ready to leave her house, when I heard the rumble of a motorcycle pull into the driveway. Panicked, I glanced at the door leading into the garage and decided it was too risky for me to leave by the back door. I rushed to the living room intending to go out the front door, but from the window I spotted Patricia and her white dog. Raven went over to her and they began chatting.
The motor stopped, and I knew it was only a matter of minutes until he came into the kitchen. He didn’t strike me as the type who would go over and engage in inane conversation with the neighbor. For a heart-stopping moment, my mind shut down. I had no idea how I was going to get out of the jam I found myself in. But when I heard the kitchen door squeak open, adrenaline and stress took over.
I dashed into the bedroom and went to the window, unlocking it. Without even a backward glance, I lifted it up, popped out the screen, and thanked God when I heard her call out to Muerto. She wanted him to help her bring the kitty litter and bottled water that had been in her trunk since the day before. I’d bought some much-needed time.
I scrambled out of the window and carefully closed it, putting the screen back. I scurried across the backyard. Hiding behind a large lilac bush, I was trying to catch my breath when she came out of the house, a bag of charcoals in her hand. She placed it by the grill then glanced my way for a long moment as I held my breath. Thinking she’d seen me, my mind hastily concocted stories for me being there, but she turned around and went back into the house. I exhaled slowly, wondering if she’d seen me and was telling him that I was behind the bush.
For a few tense minutes I waited. No one came out. I slowly emerged from my hiding place then dashed to the gate leading to the alley. As I walked away, I realized that it had been too close of a call. When they’d ridden away on the motorcycle, I’d lost track of the time. I’d grown carelessly bold. I couldn’t risk taking any more chances. I was too close to executing my plan.
I resolved to not go into the bitch’s house again until I was ready to kill her.
And that time was looming very near.
