The Intruder - 58

59

The power comes on in the evening.

The timing works out well, because the sun just went down, and I was getting ready to break out a new set of candles. But then suddenly, the room is bathed in the artificial glow of my lamps. Let there be light.

That’s what my father used to say jokingly whenever he would turn on the light in a dark room. Let there be light!

Miss you, Dad.

I’m glad I got to spend those years with him after my mother’s death. I took his name a year after I moved in with him. Legally, I am Elizabeth Casey Carter, although I have pretty much entirely dropped my first name. Nobody has called me Elizabeth or Ella in years. Most people don’t even know it’s my first name.

I make myself some dinner now that the stove is working again. Nothing too fancy. I just heat up some canned beans and some canned hamburger I find in my pantry. Don’t laugh, but it isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. A little salty but edible. Just as I’m finishing up the last of my dinner, there’s a knock on the cabin door.

My first thought is that it must be the police. Somebody saw my truck and wrote down the license plate when I was outside Jolene’s apartment. Or maybe somebody spotted me making a phone call at the gas station. Or there was some hidden camera I didn’t know about.

If it’s the police, I don’t know what I will say. I don’t have an alibi. Lee and Nell saw me leave, and I was gone for a long time. I’m sure forensics will accurately reveal the time of death. Actually, I’m sure the fresh blood will give it away—no expert analysis will be required.

My heart is pounding as I walk over to the cabin door. But when I look through the window, I don’t see any flashing lights. If it is the police, they haven’t come to arrest me.

I yank open the door, and my shoulders sag at the sight of Rudy’s lanky frame. It’s not the police after all—it’s just my landlord. He’s standing in the doorway, wearing a rain jacket, his worn baseball cap pulled down low enough that I can barely see his eyes.

What is he doing here?

“Hi, Casey,” Rudy says in his raspy voice. “Can I come in?”

I take a step back, my entire body on high alert. I’m not sure how I feel about surprise visitors, especially when I just left a dead body for the police to find. And my last interaction with Rudy was tense, to say the least. He might be looking for some payback.

Then again, he’s my landlord, and I’ve got a roof that needs fixing. So I step aside to let him in.

As Rudy enters the cabin, I observe the limp he’s got on the left. He mentioned having a bad knee once. If he tries anything again, I’ll go straight for that left knee. Cut him down before it even starts.

“So,” he says, “how did you hold up in that storm?”

“That’s what you came here to ask?”

His gaze rests on the phone sitting on the end table in my living room. “I had to come over. Your phone is still out.”

That is true. I still have no way to contact the outside world, and Rudy knows it. I can’t help but squirm.

“Looks like the roof held up,” he notes.

“No thanks to you.”

He scratches at his ear, a hangdog expression on his face. “Casey, I’m sorry. I was just flirting like I used to when I was young, and I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I deserved what you did to me.”

That’s the last thing I expected him to say. I wonder if he came to it on his own or if someone else set him straight. “I accept your apology.”

“Honest to God,” he says, “I was worried sick about you all night long. I should have insisted you stay at a hotel from the start.”

I study his features. He seems like he means it—he really was worried. I allow my body to relax, although it’s hard. I’m going to be tense for a long time to come.

“Well, I made it through,” I say. “You were right—the roof held up.”

Rudy’s face breaks into a yellow-toothed grin. Not one of his teeth is in proper alignment, yet it’s an oddly endearing smile when he’s not checking me out. “I’ll come fix it tomorrow. Don’t want you to get endangered by any other storms. And I’ll call someone to take care of that tree too.”

“Actually, Lee said he wants to fix the roof.” Although I wonder if he’ll have time now that he’ll be assuming sole responsibility for his niece.

He throws back his head and laughs. “Boy, he’s sure sweet on you. Why didn’t you just live together in the first place? I know you want your own space and all, but it would have saved you some money.”

I shake my head. “Lee and I are not a couple. I barely know him. He was just being nice.”

“What are you talking about, Casey?” Rudy’s laughter has been punctuated with a rattling cough. I’m so glad I never started smoking. “He knew all about you when he moved in.”

What?

“What do you mean?” I say slowly.

“He was asking me questions about you. By name. I remember he said, ‘The woman in the other cabin, Elizabeth Casey.’”

My stomach sinks. That’s not what I wanted to hear. How did Lee know about me before he moved in? And why did he refer to me as Elizabeth Casey when that’s no longer my legal name? I always suspected something wasn’t quite kosher about his interest in me, but he’s won so many points with me today, I convinced myself I was being silly.

“What did he ask?” I croak.

“Can’t say I remember most of it,” Rudy replies. “But I do remember one thing. He asked me if you were here all alone.”

Oh my God.

“So anyway,” he continues, “if Lee is going to be fixing your roof, then—”

“No,” I interject. “Lee is not fixing my roof. I need you to do it.”

Rudy doesn’t seem thrilled by this turn of events, although he quickly agrees since it’s his job. Truth be told, Lee would do a much better job on my roof than Rudy would. But all of a sudden, I am not eager for Lee to set foot in my house again—even on the roof.