Chapter 13 - The Bag Blake Took Was Still Packed
Six weeks later, Madeline returned to the mansion bedroom.
She needed the rest of her belongings.
Walter came with her but stopped outside the doorway.
“You staying there?”
“If you want.”
“I do.”
He nodded.
Madeline entered alone.
The bedroom looked almost unchanged.
Cream bedding.
Dark walnut furniture.
Warm bedside lamps.
The upholstered chair stood upright again.
That bothered her.
The room had reset itself faster than she had.
She opened drawers.
Packed clothes.
Collected documents.
Took her mother’s framed photograph from the dresser.
Then she opened the bottom of Blake’s wardrobe.
The overnight bag sat there.
The one he had taken from her on camera.
Still packed.
Still zipped.
Madeline pulled it out.
Inside were the clothes she chose that night.
Medication.
Phone charger.
Wallet.
Everything exactly as she had packed it.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
Blake had told her afterward:
“You weren’t really leaving. You were upset.”
The bag said otherwise.
She had planned.
Packed.
Put on shoes.
Walked into the hall.
Made the same decision more than once.
Madeline carried the bag into the hallway.
Walter looked at it.
“That one?”
“Yes.”
He reached instinctively to take it.
Madeline shook her head.
“I’ve got it.”
Walter lowered his hand.
They walked toward the stairs.
Madeline stopped beneath the hallway camera.
For several seconds she looked directly at it.
Walter asked:
“Want it removed?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
The camera was not the enemy.
It had done only one thing.
Recorded sequence.
Madeline walked first.
Blake blocked second.
Madeline reached for the phone first.
Blake took it second.
Madeline packed.
Blake removed the bag.
Facts.
Nothing more.
Madeline continued toward the stairs.
May you like
Walter followed several steps behind.
This time nobody stood in front of her.
