Page 94 of Range
“Gosh– uh– let me see–”
She inhaled and sat up straight. Her eyes traveled to the ceiling. Her chin lifted and her hands ran down the legs of her pants.
“Nine days.”
“How often were these stretches?”
“Once a year, maybe.”
“And when was the last one?”
“Last year. It was the worst.”
“The nine days?”
“Yes. I threatened him with divorce. However, he promised to never– uh– to never– you know.”
“It is possible that he is alive, Janeese? Is it possible he is too afraid of the consequences of his return home?”
I had cleaned his blood from the floors of Josiah’s home. I had seen the images he’d taken. I had visited the site where they’d been sold. I had replaced the flooring and furniture in Josiah’s home after a thorough cleaning. Anthony was dead. There was no doubt in my mind, but I wanted to raise suspicion in hers.
“I– I don’t kn– I don’t think so. I just– It’s been months! He would’ve come home by now. He wouldn’t leave Aubrey for this long. No matter what the consequences were.”
“Are you certain?”
As she nodded, her shoulders rose slowly. And, then, they fell.
“You nodded, Janeese. But, your shoulders–”
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“But there is a possibility?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her brown skin.
“Okay.”
I made a note on my notepad. After detailing Anthony’s past behavior, I rested my pen.
“That’s all?”
I nodded.
“Yes, that is all.”
Her shoulders curled inward as they lowered. She leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table. Her head fell between her palms. She rubbed them down her face.
“Anthony is no longer with us,” she wept. “I can feel it. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it. He’s no longer here.”
“Jane–”
She lowered her hands and turned toward me, face wet with tears.
“Did he do it?”
“I–”
“Did Josiah do it?”
