Everything was going well. The timing couldn’t have been better. Last Thursday, when Tyler recovered from the ether she’d asked for her school bag. He’d already checked the contents. Emptying her pails the following morning confirmed he’d have to keep her for the fewest number of days. Chance had served him well. Tyler was resilient. Her shift from pleading to resignation had occurred faster than with any of the others. She was fitter too and would be a good mother for his child. She was even wearing a skirt, not the ubiquitous jeans he’d encountered with Kimberley and Lucy. He felt good.
He felt good until the police arrived and took a DNA sample. That had been this morning. It was now the evening. He was back at the building in the woods and Tyler was on the bed listening to music. As soon as he’d cleared their supper things, he went to his private room. Gazing at the gleaming jars of his collection, his eyes lost focus as he pondered the day’s events. It was approaching 10 p.m. when he rose, checked the padlock on the chain-link door, wished Tyler goodnight and turned out the lamp. Beyond her sight, he hung his hood on the peg and slipped the Mr Punch reed into his pocket before walking to the car.
Driving home he replayed his thoughts about the day’s events and the doubts increased. The police had taken DNA so they must have a sample for comparison. For the first time he felt vulnerable. In a few days, three he guessed, they would have a DNA match. Then they would come looking for him. He must get away, somewhere safe, but what about Tyler? He couldn’t leave her alone. He must care for her as he planned to care for their child.
There was a rabbit caught in his headlights. He braked hard.
The abrupt deceleration rearranged the thoughts in his head. There was no need to leave Tyler, quite the opposite. The building in the woods was the place to go. When he’d held the others captive the police hadn’t found them. He’d be safe in the woods and he could continue to look after Tyler. If he started early tomorrow, he could do eight separate weekly shops at different supermarkets and be safe by nightfall. He’d be hidden long before the police had their DNA results and came looking for him.
All was not lost. Soon Tyler would be pregnant and in nine months he’d be the father of a child he could care for from afar.