Page 22 of Fish out of Water
Maybe one of these places was where Mr. Frazier went to. I could do a search online and find a phone number to call.
Make sure he was okay.
Make sure he knew it was Grant who took his mailbox money and not me.
I put the phone books back in place and folded the paper, adding it to the pocket holding the instructions on how to feed Penelope the cannibal.
At least the trip wasn’t a complete waste. I did what I’d promised to do and found something that might help me get in touch with Mr. Frazier.
I was going to call it a semi-legal win.
I walked down the hall, already planning out all the things I was going to tell Mr. Frazier when I talked to him.
Your hearing aid is on the kitchen counter.
You might want to get a new set of tongs.
Your nephew is a pain in the ass.
I’m never feeding your fish again.
I was halfway to the door when the sound of a key sliding into a lock sent my stomach to my shoes. I looked from side to side but Mr. Frazier’s minimalistic lifestyle left few places to hide.
The best option was the closet across from the kitchen. I yanked open the door and ducked inside, squeezing between an ironing board and a winter coat hanging from the rack. I managed to shut myself in just as the front door started to open.
Then closed.
I held my breath as the locks were flipped into place.
No easy escape for me.
“I guess I should feed you, fish.”
The air rushed from my lungs.
It was Grant.
He was feeding Penelope like he promised.
Why did that warm my heart?
“Here you go.” Wire tapped plastic as he dropped more fish into Penelope’s aquarium.
Wasn’t there something on the paper about not overfeeding her?
“Eat up.”
I held my breath again as his footsteps moved past the closet door. He’d already found me in this apartment under what looked like questionable circumstances once.
This would probably look even worse.
“Hey.”
My heart stopped and my lungs quit working.
He’d found me.
“I’m back at Vito’s.” His steps moved past the closet again. “I went home and picked up some more clothes. It looks like I might be here a few days.”
