AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Squatters used to live here, and everybody in Fairhaven avoided the cemetery except bored teenagers who left their trash everywhere, so no, I didn’t think my purchase would draw attention.” Even the moat had fallen into disuse until I struck a bargain with a local wheeler-dealer known as Big Boss.
Ray’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Speaking of trash, you asked me to remind you when it’s trash day…”
“Shit.” I glanced at the clock on my phone. It was already later than I would’ve preferred.
“What’s wrong?” Addison asked.
“I need to go.” I rushed upstairs to dress, brush my teeth, and remedy my serious case of bedhead. Then I grabbed a wad of bungee cords from an open container in the closet and hurried back to the kitchen for my purse and keys.
Addison still sat at the table, holding a mug of coffee. “Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“With whom?”
“Nobody.”
“For how long?”
“Depends.”
“I want to go, too.”
“You can’t. You’re in hiding, remember? You can’t risk being seen.”
She gave me a pleading look. “Come on, be a pal. I’ve been stuck inside for ages. I need to breathe fresh air again.”
“You’ve been stuck inside a very large house for exactly five days, and given the state of my windows, there’s plenty of fresh air circulating.”
She pointed to the bungee cords in my hand. “I can help you with those.”
I held up the cords. “I’ve been using these since I was old enough to tie my shoelaces.”
“I highly doubt you and I used them for the same purpose. What are you going to do with them?”
“If you must know, I’m embarking on a mission to find furniture.”
Her eyes sparked with interest. “You plan to steal it?”
“From a dumpster or the side of the road, yes.”
“I can help with that! I have a great eye for diamonds in the rough.”
“So do I.”
Folding her arms, she leveled me with a look. “I once found a painting left on a Chicago sidewalk that turned out to be worth six figures.” She gave my ancient computer a pointed look. “You seem like you could use six figures.”
She had me there. My bank account was as empty as her promise to clean the bathroom.
“Fine,” I said, “but you should wear a disguise. I don’t want The Corporation attack squad showing up on my doorstep because they spotted us dumpster diving together on someone’s Ring camera.”
“I’ll be two seconds.” She ran past me and hustled upstairs.
Ray followed me to the foyer. “You sure about this?”
“Nope.”
“Then why do it?”
