Page 55 of Midnight Creed

In a panic, he shed his coat and shoes. Balled them up and stuffed them into the trash bag, just like he always did. Ditched them in the first Dumpster when he was sure no one was looking. But he couldn’t make it back to his stash, leaving him in his socks and only a sweatshirt. Leaving him no alternative but to get back to his car as soon as possible and escape.

Not good. Very bad. Very bad, indeed.

Usually, it was so simple. Nobody ever noticed. Usually, he had plenty of time. And tonight the old woman had made it easy on him. Following him. Sneaking around corners. Pretending.

Did she really think he hadn’t noticed her?

But he was so caught up in their little game of cat and mouse that Gregory had missed seeing the detective.

Where did she come from? A parked car? A shadowed entrance?

How the hell had he missed her?

Sirens screeched, and he wanted to put his hands to his ears. The sound scraped against his nerves. From the parking garage, he could see the flashing lights reflecting off the shop windows.

Too close.

He had parked too close.

Too cocky.

Just wait. Calm down.

He turned on the ignition. Blasted the heat vents.

No one had seen him. No one had followed.

Then he noticed the blood on the steering wheel, and a fresh panic seeped over him.

No, no, no!

He was always so careful not to bring any of the blood with him. Now it was all over the car.

His head swiveled. His eyes darted around the garage. Noises echoed. Vehicles leaving. Vehicles coming in.

He needed to leave. Now.

Don’t screech tires.

Calm down.

Don’t draw attention.

Breathe. Through your nose, not your mouth.

He dug a towel out of the duffle bag in the passenger seat. He wiped down the steering wheel and his hands.

In the rearview mirror, he examined his face and neck for any specks or splatters. He met his eyes in the reflection and hardly recognized the frenzied look staring back at him.

“You’re going to be okay,” he said out loud.

Before he looked away, he caught a glimpse of an image. A small boy slouched down, tucked against the door in the backseat.

He spun around.

There was no one.

He lifted himself enough to get a look at the space between the backseat and the floor. But there was no one.