Page 68 of Day Break

I held onto the book as sadness flooded Lane’s eyes.

“I’ve only read a few pages,” I told him.

He nodded, then stood up suddenly. “I’d better get in.” He glanced at his watch and sighed heavily. “I have a meeting in five minutes.”

I nodded again, not wanting to move. When he turned to go, however, I jumped in.

“Do you think there’s something in here they wanted?” I asked.

He stopped in the doorway and glanced back at me. “Until we find out, hide it better than in the nightstand.” He turned and left.

I sat there for a while, unsure of why he’d allowed me to keep the thing. Was he upset I took it in the first place? I shouldn’t have, I knew that now.

Still, had the person who’d broken in last night found Sherry’s hiding place? I itched to go look. I also needed to go clean up the mess they’d left behind.

It was strange that Lane and George didn’t want to call the police about the break-in. I was thankful, however, since they might question my credentials.

I’d been with Lane all night, and he would back me up on that. But I would probably be on the cops’ radar, and also his family’s, when my past was exposed.

I looked around the room, trying to find the best hiding spot. When I walked into the bathroom, I thought of the one place often used in prison to keep things out of the guard’s view.

I pulled out my tampon box and shoved the book down to the bottom, then put the box in the back of the cupboard.

That hiding spot would have to do for now.

Since I’d left in such a hurry, I took a moment to comb my hair, wash my face, and change into some more appropriate clothes.

Taking some trash bags with me, I headed up to Sherry’s room and started cleaning the mess.

The first thing I noticed was that whoever had broken in hadn’t found the diary’s initial hiding spot. Should I put the book back? Would it be safer there with the rest of her trinkets?

I wondered about that the entire time I cleaned.

All of the clothes I’d borrowed were now destroyed, torn to shreds by a box cutter I’d found in the rubble and had almost cut myself on.

By the time George walked in a couple hours later, the room was put back to normal, minus everything that had once belonged to Sherry.

“This looks better,” he said, leaning just outside the door with his arms crossed over his chest. Byron sat at his feet, as if still on guard.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, worried.

“Better.” He ran his eyes over the missing pictures in the room. “I didn’t have the heart to get rid of anything in here,” he admitted.

“I’m sorry the choice was taken from you,” I said, touching his arm. There were four large black trash bags full of Sherry’s things sitting in the hallway. “Would you like some lunch?” I asked, looking at the clock in the bedroom.

George nodded and Byron did a few happy circles.

I started to pick up the trash bags, but George waved them away. “Lane can take those out later. You’ve done enough heavy lifting for the day.” He smiled at me.

As we walked down the stairs together slowly, he said, “I bet it will be nice, not having my family around for the next few days.”

I smiled. “It is a nice break.”

When we got to the bottom of the stairs, he glanced towards the closed office door.

“I happened to notice my grandson didn’t come from his own room this morning,” he said, winking at me. “Don’t worry.” He patted my hand. “I won’t hold it against you that you’ve fallen for his charms. After all, he takes after me.”

I laughed and then hugged him.