April Shadows (Shadows 1)

know where being nowhere is.

I rose and dressed in a shirt, sweater, jeans, and

sneakers. Then I packed my small bag, making sure to

include Mr. Panda.

It was hours later now, close to four in the

morning. I moved very quickly but very quietly,

crossing the yard and then opening the back door of

the main house as quietly as I could. I tiptoed in and

listened. Brenda was probably dead to the world now,

sleeping off her drunken stupor. However, she would

never sleep off her anger. I knew how she could

harbor hate and wrath so well and for so long. She

was, after all, always a competitor. What had

happened between Celia and me was clearly a defeat

in her eyes. She would never forgive. Her philosophy

was to defeat, defeat, defeat, and never look back at

the enemy you've crippled and smashed.

I moved softly past their bedroom into the

kitchen and, as quietly as I could, opened the drawer

that I knew housed some of the important papers. The

one I was looking for was in there. I had seen it

before. It was toward the bottom. I found it easily and

clutched it in my left hand. Then I went to the pantry

and found the can on the shelf that had our household

funds. There was nearly five hundred dollars. I took it

all.

They'll get more in the morning, I thought. They

don't need it.

Again, moving as though I were walking on a shelf of air. I went down the short corridor. I was shocked to discover Celia sleeping in the living room on the sofa. I paused and stared at her for a moment, and then I slipped out the front door and hurried to my

car.