Page 65 of Finn

I stepped into the apartment, feeling anxious. Emily thought she saw Brian leaving. I checked his keys, but they were still on the hook, the dull bronze matching the one I had. I knew the super wouldn’t let him in. Emily must have been mistaken, as she said. I hadn’t told him I was away, so he must have dropped over to say hi. Unless he’d had a second key I didn’t know about. Why would he come inside, though?

I went to his old room, pushing open the door. I sniffed, the air a bit stale with a slightly odd scent mixed in. Everything was in its place. I crossed to the closet, opening the door. The backpack he’d put in it was still tucked into the corner of the shelf. With a shake of my head, I shut the door then headed for a shower, leaving the bedroom door open to air it out a bit.

A while later, I came down the hall, stopping in confusion. The bedroom door was almost shut, but I had left it open, hadn’t I?

I pushed it open, looking inside. Everything was normal. No one was there. I headed to the front door, checking that it was closed. It was locked, the dead bolt firmly in place. The bedroom door probably drifted shut on its own and I was making too much of it.

I sat down, staring at the floor. I rubbed my eyes. I was tired and overreacting. I was sure I was, but I decided I would ask the super about changing the locks the next time I saw him.

* * *

I was tired the next morning, having hardly slept that night. I tossed and turned, thinking of Finn. Worried. Upset he hadn’t called.

Then I realized not once in my worrying had I wondered about Brian.

And I wondered if my subconscious was telling me something.

I went to work, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. As I stepped off the subway, I got the feeling again of being watched. I looked around, but the station was busy—packed with morning commuters. I thought I glimpsed the same man from the day before, but he was gone too quickly for me to be sure.

Then I shook my head and ran for the bus, not wanting to be late. I was nervous as I walked in, wondering how the staff would treat me. If Finn would be waiting. But I was greeted in the same warm fashion, and Finn was nowhere to be seen. The morning was busy with checkouts and getting reservations organized for a large group arriving on the weekend, and it flew by. I had my lunch by the fireplace, feeling strangely bereft. I glanced at the cameras, somehow aware that Finn wasn’t watching me back.

I recalled his words. “I’m not playing this game with you, Una.”

I had to swallow the lump in my throat. Had he given up this time, knowing the bumps ahead were too large to smooth over between us?

On the way home, I sensed eyes on me, but when I looked around the crowded subway car, I saw no one I recognized. No mysterious man leering at me.

I was overtired and upset and seeing things that weren’t there. Jumping at shadows.

I stepped out of the elevator, rounding the corner, shock stopping my feet when I saw Brian outside my door.

“Brian?”

He blinked, looking surprised. Or was that guilt?

“Hey, Una. I was just leaving. I knocked, but you weren’t home.”

“I was at work. You know that. And you didn’t answer my call or text last night.”

“Yeah. I don’t have the old phone anymore. I, ah, had to give it back.”

“When you quit.”

“Guess I’m not surprised you know about that.” He scratched his head. “Can we talk?”

I went past him, glancing down. He had some keys in his hand. “What are those?”

He looked down. “My keys.”

“Do you have a key to my place?”

He looked annoyed. “No. I gave it back, Una.” He held up the ring. “These are to my new place and my car. Jesus,” he muttered, pushing them my way. “You want to check?”

“No.” I huffed a sigh. “Come in.”

* * *

He went past me, and I wrinkled my nose. “Have you started smoking again?”