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But it’s the principle that counts.
Moving to the window, I pull down some my blinds and watch his car pull out.
It doesn’t feel like I breathe again until he’s gone for good, speeding up the street.
I don’t know how much time I have before he comes back, but I’m sure as fuck not going to waste it.
After giving Abel his medicine, I set him down in his playpen to play while I turn the house upside down for my phone.
I know I had it last night. I remember grabbing it before Jude and I left the club, but the fucking thing is nowhere to be found.
Dumping out my purse on the dining room table, I sort through the mess, hoping for a miracle.
But come up empty-handed.
And discover I’m not only missing my phone, I’m also missing my wallet.
There’s no way I left both my wallet and phone at the club.
No way.
Jude must have taken them.
Shit.
Wracking my brain, I try to remember if there’s anything on the phone that could incriminate me. My uncle’s number is saved, of course.
But our text messages mostly consisted of him reminding me to check in…
Except for the night I got caught. I texted my uncle everything that happened and begged to be released from the job.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Checking the little zipper pocket inside my purse, I find the twenties I keep there for emergencies.
Without my wallet, the twenties are all I have to my name.
Scooping everything back into my purse, I grab Abel from the playpen, slip my feet into my flip-flops, and leave the house.
I’ve always found the neighborhood eerily quiet during the day. The kids are in school and almost everyone is at work.
But at least with it so empty, it would be easy to spot someone watching me.
Eyeing my surroundings nervously, looking for anything out of place, I race to Sonya’s and knock on her door.
“Eden,” she greets me sleepily, still dressed in her pajamas.
Behind her, I can hear her son Alex clapping and singing along with whatever kid show is on the TV.
“Sorry to bother you, Sonya,” I say as I shift Abel on my hip, “but could I borrow your phone?”
Sonya frowns. “Sure, but I only have a few minutes left. I’m going to reload it today…”
Of fucking course. That would be my luck.
I do my best to keep my frustration from showing on my face. “How many minutes?”
Sonya walks away from the door, disappearing into her living room before quickly reappearing.
