Page 26 of Last Rites

He stared at the mess for a few moments, then began pulling out all of his dirty clothes, including the clothes he’d been wearing at the falls, stuffed them into a laundry bag, dropped it off at the laundry across the street, then went back to his apartment. He stared at the hiking shoes, then put them in the bathtub and ran the tub full of water. He didn’t care if he ruined them. He just wanted every miniscule bit of Jubilee washed down the drain. Removing the DNA of a place from his things was of paramount importance.

There was also the matter of the gun. He didn’t know what to do with it, but it needed to be gone. Then he thought of the Potomac. As soon as it got dark, he’d drive down to the shore and throw it in the river. The gun was unregistered. Even if somebody found it one day, it could never be traced back to him.

Satisfied so far with his decisions, he unpacked his toiletries, then continued to empty the backpack. It wasn’t until he was staring down at the empty pack that he realized the journal was missing.

“What the fuck?” he mumbled, and grabbed the backpack again, tearing through all of the separate compartments, certain that he’d just overlooked it.

“Oh God, oh God, oh God! Where the hell could it be?” Then he dropped onto the side of his bed and closed his eyes, trying to remember when he’d seen it last. “Yesterday morning! I put it in my backpack beforeleaving the hotel. I had it with me on the mountain, but I never took it out.”

And then it hit him! The parking lot! When he fell. Shit came flying out of that backpack like confetti at a wedding. It must have fallen out then and he didn’t see it!

He broke out in a cold sweat, and once again, his heart began to pound. It took a few moments of sheer panic before it dawned on him. Finding that book still didn’t pin him to it. Nobody would know who lost it. And there were Popes everywhere. They’d just claim it and go on about their lives without knowing how it got there.

“Fine. I’m glad it’s gone,” Nyles muttered. “Nobody knows me. Nobody saw anything. Now there’s nothing linking me to that place. I was just one of thousands passing through Jubilee. It’s going to be all right. Thank you, God. It’s going to be all right.”

He breathed a shaky sigh of relief and went to the kitchen to get something cold to drink. But the contents of his refrigerator left a lot to be desired, so he began dumping out all of the spoiled food and the milk that had gone sour, then made out a grocery list and left.

He drove straight to the bank to remove his “cousin’s” name from his account, apologizing for the inconvenience, and giving them the excuse that his cousin had decided against moving to DC after all. Once that was done, he drove into Virginia to return the rental car; then he called an Uber to take him home. Once hereturned, he got into his own car with the grocery list in his pocket. He needed a haircut and fresh food, in that order.

That night he drove to the Potomac and tossed the handgun into flowing water as far as he could throw, then went home, took a sleeping pill, and slept without dreaming. He woke up the next morning with a drug hangover and took himself to work.

Walking back through the tunnel from the parking lot, and then into the auspicious Library of Congress, he was convinced he’d just gotten away with murder.

The sad part? Not a single soul had even noticed he’d been gone. No one remarked upon his new look. Or welcomed him back.

He was fucking invisible, and he hoped it stayed that way.

Charlie Raines was still unconscious when his doctor made rounds the next morning, but his vital signs were stronger. The news gave Ray and Betty fresh hope they would not have to bury their only child after all.

Annie Cauley arrived at the hospital the next morning with a half dozen fresh biscuits from home already split and buttered, with pieces of fried ham between them, and a thermos of hot coffee, along with napkins and disposable cups.

Betty was stretched out on a small couch, and Rayhad bunked by shoving some chairs together to make a cot. Nurses had furnished each of them with a pillow and a blanket. They were just waking up when Annie walked in. Betty sat up and began combing her fingers through her hair as Ray shoved chairs back in place and began folding up their blankets.

“I brought breakfast as promised,” Annie said, and set it down on a table as she greeted them with hugs. “Also, I asked Shirley to get fresh clothes for the both of you when she and Sean went to your house to do chores. They’re in this bag. Call if you need anything. There are a dozen people just waiting to help. Now, tell me how Charlie is doing.”

“His doctor already made rounds. Charlie’s still unconscious, but his vital signs are stronger,” Betty said as she grabbed a couple of cups and poured them full of hot coffee, then took a quick sip and sighed. “You’re just what the doctor ordered.”

Annie smiled.

Ray picked up his own coffee and took a quick sip before he spoke.

“We got to see him a couple of times in the night. I have a feeling he knows we’re there. We just keep telling him he’s safe and to rest so he can heal.”

Annie sighed. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from the police?”

“Not since Aaron stopped by last night. He said both local and county officers were working the case, but they couldn’t be talking about it to anyone,” Ray said.

“It’s good to know we have family in on the hunt,” Annie said.

“Yes, it is,” Betty said. “Thank you for breakfast, Aunt Annie.”

“You’re so welcome, sugar,” Annie said. “I’ll leave you to it. I need to get to the bakery. Call if you need me.”

And then she was gone.

Betty went to wash up, and when she came back, she and Ray ate what they could, saved the rest for later, then took turns changing clothes. A shower would have been welcome, but the simple act of fresh clothing was a comfort.

People were also stirring up on the mountain.

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