Chapter 21: The Toothbrush

I came home at nine that night, and my duffel bag was packed and sitting by the door.

It had been packed neatly, by someone who folds.

The new white headset was zipped into the side pocket, and my taped one was beside it, wrapped in a clean sock.

On top of the bag lay a Form 11-B, filled out in capitals.

Nature of incident: OTHER.

Description: WIFE LEFT.

Date: blank.

Lorne was sitting on the windowsill with his back to the glass and a cracker in each hand.

"You pre-filled the form," I said.

"I like to be prepared."

"For me to leave."

"The game is safe. Margaret is gone."

"And?"

"You came to this apartment for the content, and the content's finished."

He ate a cracker.

"I thought it was best to make it easy."

"You folded my underwear."

"Yes."

"Into thirds."

"It's the most efficient way."

I put the form down on the mattress very carefully, because if I kept holding it I would tear it in half.

"Why do you think I'm going?" I said.

"Because everyone does."

He said it plainly.

"When the money's safe and the trouble's over, they go. My first partner. A woman I was going to marry."

He brushed a crumb off his knee.

"It's all right. I'd rather you didn't have to say it."

"You think I've been here for the money."

"I think you were here for the game. And I think you were kind to me for a week because you found a ledger. That's allowed."

"I was kind to you for a week?"

"Seven days. I kept track."

"Of course you did."

I picked up the bag and took out the underwear, all of it.

I put it back in the drawer, flat, in no particular order.

Then I took out the headset in the clean sock and put it on the sill beside his hip.

Keep reading free with an account. Start I Married My Ruthless Boss in a Video Game from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.