Page 68 of The Cleaner

Finally, I stop, standing back to admire my work. The man is lifeless, his eyes so wide you can still see the hint of fear in the deadness of his orbs.

I’m not finished yet. Now, I have to have the body delivered to his cunt of a wife and wait for the fireworks. She’s going to lose her ever-fucking-loving mind and I’m going to enjoy every fucking second of it.

I reach for my trusty saw. It’s one of my more preferred ones. I start it up, listening to the engine rev and the saw’s blade start to churn. I start sawing into her father's body, the sound of the blade tearing through flesh and bone echoing throughout the room.

I work methodically, cutting the body into smaller and smaller pieces. Each pass of the saw brings this shit closer to the end. As I finish dismembering the man, I take a step back to survey my handiwork. The sight is gruesome, but it's what he deserves. I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over me. Tanya will get her turn soon enough, and I'll make sure she remembers this day for the rest of her life.

With the body now in manageable pieces, I carefully wrap each one in thick plastic wrap and then place them into a box. I load the box into my truck, excited for what’s about to happen.

It takes me a while to get changed and cleaned up. Once I’m ready, I climb into the truck and drive. Excitement courses through me. The Jennings’ have lost their son and now son-in-law. Soon they’ll lose their daughter.

I can’t fucking wait. Let the games begin.

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

LISA

I'm giddy with excitement.Tonight, Maverick is taking me on a date. We tend to do one every month. I love being with him even though we practically live together. We spend almost every night at my house. The only nights we don’t are when we have a job to do. Thankfully, my jobs seem to coincide with Mav’s, so it’s easy to hide what I’m doing.

I’m currently cleaning. I do this when I’ve got built up energy to burn. I strip the sheets off the bed and toss them into the laundry hamper. The windows, floors, doors—all receive a thorough scrubbing and polishing. The smell of lemon cleaner fills the air as I move around the room dancing to the music blasting from the speakers.

Once that’s done, I make my way to the pantry. With determination, I begin organising and throwing out expired items. As I reach for a can of soup on the top shelf, there's a sudden knock at the door. My brows knit together in confusion. Who could that be? I’m not expecting anyone.

“Hey,” I say to Ciarán when I see him standing on my doorstep. “Is everything okay?” I ask when I notice his hardened expression.

He enters my home and shuts the door behind him. “Travis wanted to be here,” he tells me. “He’s on his way, but he wants you to know.”

I feel a chill run down my spine at Ciarán's words. “What’s happened?” I ask, needing to know what he’s not telling me.

He sighs. “I hate to be the one to tell you, but your father’s body was found early this morning. He’s gone, Lisa.”

I stare at Ciarán, my mind struggling to comprehend his words. My father, gone? My world tilts, like the ground has been shifted beneath me. God, he’s gone? I blink back the tears, willing them not to fall. How the hell did this happen?

"I'm sorry. I know this is probably the last thing you want to deal with right now," Ciarán says softly, his gaze filled with worry.

My eyes burn with unshed tears, and I cling to the counter in front of me for support. "Thank you for letting me know," I whisper, barely able to get the words out. My stomach drops as reality sinks in. "What happened? Do you know who did it?" I ask, needing to know.

Ciarán’s face darkens. “He was tortured. It looks like it was long and brutal. It looks as though it was the Cleaner.”

My breath catches in my throat. It feels like I’ve been punched in the gut. "No... no, it can't be," I gasp, hoping that I misheard him or that this is all some sick joke.

“I wish I could say it was a joke, Lisa," Ciarán says solemnly, his eyes filled with sorrow. "But it's not. The Cleaner is notorious for his method of killing and your father is a victim of the Cleaner.”

My heart sinks and a sob breaks from me. Why would he do this? Why would Maverick hurt me like this?

Ciarán reaches out a hand to steady me as I sway on my feet. “Lisa, I know this is a lot to take in. Travis will be here soon.He’s worried about you. I’m not leaving. Do you want me to call Maverick?” he asks.

I’m unable to find my voice as tears finally spill down my cheeks. The pain of loss grips my heart in a vice-like hold, squeezing the breath out of me. What the hell is going on? Why would he do this? I know my dad wasn’t the greatest, but killing him? I don’t understand.

The front door opens and my entire body tenses. Maverick’s home.

“What the fuck is going on?” he rumbles.

I spin on my heel. “Why?” I rasp, anger and hurt etched in the word. “Why did you do it?”

“What?” Maverick returns, glancing between Ciarán and me. “What the fuck is going on?”

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