Shadows of the Night

Thirteen

Sabrina

I spent the last hour cleaning up Nathan's place while he's at work. Rodgers was a lot of help fixing furniture back together, at least the ones we could. He took me to Lowe's to replace the ones he couldn't repair.

The place is almost back together in one piece. The last task is covering the bullet hole in the wall.

Nothing a little spackle can't do.

Heading into the storage closet, I search the area for some spackle and paint. Knowing him, he's got have at least two of each.

As I head further into the closet, I accidentally kick over a cardboad box, tipping over some old files onto the floor. "Shit!" I curse under my breath and bend down to clean the mess.

I pause when I notice reports from the Shadow Killer on each page, going back a couple years. Each sheet reports each of his murders in explicit detail.

I furrow my eyebrows down at the papers.

I know he used to be in the FBI, but what is he doing investigating something big like this? Is he trying to hunt the man down himself?

I know very little on this serial killer, but he's about on the news at least everyday. The guy definitely seems dangerous, too dangerous for a single security guard if you ask me.

What is he doing with all this information?

Before I can dig for more answers, I hear the front door open, followed by Nathan speaking with Rodgers.

I quickly collect the reports and grab a picture frame from the shelf instead with some command strips.

Walking into the living room, I smile at Nathan.

His eyes shift to the picture frame in my hand with curiosity. "Whatcha got there?"

"Well, I couldn't find some spackle, so I figured this would be an easier fix." I gesture over at the hole in the wall. "At least for now."

His eyes scan the room. "Yeah, the place looks great. Thank you. You guys didn't have to do this for me. I was going to do it when I got home today."

I shrug before heading over to the hole and place a command strip above it carefully. As I do so, I call out over my shoulder, "It was nothing. Least I can do for you." I then set the frame in place on the wall, concealing the hole.

Nathan approaches Rodgers as he thanks him. They then begin talking softly among each other.

I glance over at the mail Nathan put down on the counter and walk over to it. Last week, I had changed my address to Nathan's so I wouldn't have to go back home to get my mail.

Scanning through the mail for my name, I notice Nathan has a letter from a high school in New York. I hold it up for him to see and ask, "Why is this high school sending you a letter? It's all the way in New York."

He turns his head away from Rodgers.

Rodgers exhales and says, "Well, I better get back home to the wife. See you, Grayson." He pats his arm and heads for the door.

"See ya, man." He replies.

After Rodgers leaves, he then chuckles at the ground while walking over to me, ready to answer my question. He retrieves the letter and says, "It's where I went to high school. I'm from New York City. It's probably my high school reunion." He opens it up and observes it for a moment, then nods. "Yep." He tosses it into the trash.

I huff and fold my arms. "You're not going to it?"

He shrugs. "I really don't care to reminisce the past."

I grin at him while rubbing his chest slowly. "I think you should go. I'm sure you have old friends you'd like to see. I think it would be nice to get your mind off of recent events, you know?"

He pauses as a thought arises. He then adds, "And . . It's far from Keith. How do you feel about a weekend trip to New York?" He grins down at me.

I smile at him.

That's a great idea! Keith will never find me there!

"I'll pack my bags!" I hug him.

. . .

We decided to leave a few days earlier than the reunion, to get me away from Keith as soon as possible, now that I'm not safe at Nathan's anymore.

We sit on a plane and are high in the sky. Nathan let me take the window seat, not only because I asked for it, but 'Just to be safe.' I've never felt safer. There's no way Keith can find me here.

Nathan was real cautious about how he went about it. We went straight to the airport to purchase our tickets so that he couldn't track us online. He also made sure we left around 3 in the morning, switching from rental car to rental car, so that we weren't being followed to the airport. He even had me wearing his hoodie with sweats and sunglasses. Nathan also wore something similar, since he knows his face too.

He shouldn't have ever caught us.

Now we're safe, thousands of feet in the air.

I glance out the window at the gloomy clouds. Its an overcast outside, but I don't think we'll get caught in a storm.

The pretty flight attendant stops by to offer us mimosas.

I've never been on such a fancy plane before, it's kinda nice.

"Thank you." Nathan takes two glasses from the woman, who blushes at him. She then continues down the aisle.

Nathan hands me my glass.

"I think this was a good idea, you know, getting away from Keith." I tell him before sipping the delicious beverage.

He nods. "Well, it's the least we can do until we can find a safer place for you. Then find him and lock him up for good." He explains.

I nod with a sigh. "This new normal is getting pretty old." I tell him.

"Well, it's what we have to do to keep you safe. Trust me, when I find the bastard, he'll regret even knowing you." He replies sternly.

. . .

Nathan wakes me up gently. I fell asleep on his shoulder for what must have been a few hours at least.

"We're here." He says softly.

The lights on the plane are all lit. People are leaving their seats and slowly herding towards the exit.

Nathan rises and retrieves our luggage from above us. His long arms haul the suitcases effortlessly, as if they weigh nothing.

Moments later, we're exiting the plane, then the airport, to good 'ole New York City streets.

This is going to be fun!