While he does that, Alice goes through the Jensens’ apartment with a dish towel and a spray bottle of Lysol and water, wiping down surfaces. She pays special attention to the TV remote, which they’ve both used, and doesn’t neglect the light switches. When she goes downstairs, Billy helps her wipe down the basement apartment, paying particular attention to the bathroom: fixtures, shower head, mirror, the toilet’s flush handle. It takes them about an hour.
‘I think we’re done,’ she says.
‘What about the key to the Jensens’ apartment?’
‘Oh glory,’ she says. ‘I’ve still got it. I’ll wipe it down and … what? Slip it under the door?’
‘I’ll do it.’ He does, but goes in first to get Don Jensen’s Ruger. He sticks it in his belt, beneath the pregnancy belly. The XL sweatshirt covers it. The revolver is a pricey item, five or six hundred dollars, and Billy doesn’t have that much cash. He leaves two fifties and a C-note on the nightstand, along with a quick scribble that says Took your gun. Will send the balance when I can. More like if he can. Meanwhile, what about Daphne and Walter? Will they die of thirst on their windowsill? Romeo and Juliet of the plant world? Stupid to even wonder, given everything else he has to worry about.
It’s because Bev gave them names, he thinks. He treats each to one final spray for good luck. Then he touches his back pocket, where Shan’s flamingo drawing is folded up and stowed away.
Back downstairs, he takes Alice’s phone out of his hip pocket and holds it out to her. He’s replaced the SIM card.
She takes it with an accusing look. ‘It wasn’t lost. You had it all along.’
‘Because I didn’t trust you.’
‘And now you do?’
‘Now I do. And at some point you need to call your mother. Otherwise she’s going to get worried.’
‘I suppose she would,’ Alice says. Then, with a trace of bitterness: ‘After a month or so.’ She sighs. ‘Okay, and tell her what? I made a friend, we bonded over chicken noodle soup and The Blacklist?’
Billy considers, but comes up empty.
Alice, meanwhile, breaks into a smile. ‘You know what, I’m going to tell her I quit school. She’ll believe that. And I’m going to Cancun with some friends. She’ll believe that, too.’
‘Will she really?’
‘Yes.’
Billy thinks there’s a whole mother–daughter relationship in that single word, complete with tears, recriminations, and slammed doors. ‘You need to work on that a little,’ he says. ‘Right now it’s time to go.’
6
There are two Sherwood Heights exits off the Interstate, both with clusters of fast-food restaurants, gas-em-up quick-stops, and motels. Billy tells Alice to look for a motel that isn’t part of a chain. While she’s busy checking out the signs, he slips the Ruger out of his belt and stows it under the seat. At the second exit she points out the Penny Pines Motel and asks what he thinks. Billy says it looks good. Using one of his Dalton Smith credit cards, he gets them a pair of adjoining rooms. Alice waits in the car, making Billy think of that old song by the Amazing Rhythm Aces, ‘Third Rate Romance.’
They bring in their stuff. He takes the Mac Pro out of the carrybag, puts it on the room’s single table （shaky and needing a shim under one leg）， re-zips the bag, and slings it over his shoulder.
‘What do you need that for?’
‘Supplies. I need to do some shopping. And it’s got a good look. Professional. What’s your phone number?’
She gives it to him and he puts it into his contacts.
‘Do you have an address for the condo where these guys live?’ It’s a question he should have asked before, but they’ve been a little busy.
‘I don’t know the number, but it’s Landview Estates, on Route 10. It’s the last stop the bus makes before it gets to the airport and turns around.’ Alice takes him by the sleeve and leads him to the window. She points. ‘Pretty sure that’s Landview Estates, those three on the left. Tripp lives – they live – in building C.’
‘Third floor.’
‘That’s right. I don’t remember the apartment number, but it’s the one at the end of the hall. You have to push a code to get in the front door, and I didn’t see what he put in. It didn’t seem important at the time.’
‘I’ll get in.’ Billy hopes he’s right about that. His expertise is guns, not entering buildings with security doors.