The buzzing alarm startled Janet awake. She picked up the phone and squinted at the screen—two forty-five. It was time to get up and rid themselves of Mr. Hennessey’s body that lay covered in the back of the van. She slipped on the clothes she had worn earlier and headed to the bathroom. A quick splash of cold water on her face would wake her up. Janet called out to Gail, who slept in the small second bedroom, as she made her way down the hall.
“Get up. We’ve got to go.”
They had things to do and places to be. Coffee and breakfast would be enjoyed at their leisure after the drop and once they were safely home.
“Move it. We’re leaving in three minutes.”
“I’m coming, Mom. Can I at least put on my shoes?”
“Yes, but do it quickly. Is the wagon in the van?”
“Of course, just like always.”
“Put on your hoodie.” Janet zipped hers up to her throat and grabbed the keys.
They were fortunate to have an end unit on the first floor. Having the van backed up to the apartment, and with both rear doors open, kept people from seeing them load a body into the vehicle. Janet double-checked the contents then quietly closed the rear doors. She took a seat behind the wheel and inched out of the driveway, then the headlights went on a block later.
“Have you decided on the entrance into the park?” She glanced at Gail, who was studying a map on her phone.
“Yeah, give me just a second to make sure.” Gail spread the image with her fingers to enlarge the photograph of the park. “Let’s take East Sixtieth to Best Drive. There are dozens of small roads weaving through the park in that area. We’ll follow the one that goes out to the peninsula. Water is all around it, there’s a ton of trees, and it’s a safer choice for us, off the beaten path, so maybe we can move a little slower.” She gave her mom a quick smile.
“That sounds good. It shouldn’t be long now, ten minutes tops.”
Janet turned onto Best Drive and went right. She cut the headlights and used only the fog lamps going forward. Several hundred feet ahead, Gail pointed to the left.
“Turn there. That’ll take us to the peninsula.”
They continued on and went deeper in until the road was no wider that a golf cart path.
“That should do it.” Janet pulled under a large oak and parked. Gail leapt from the passenger side, rounded the van to the back, and opened the double doors. With a couple of snaps, the collapsible wagon was locked in the open position and the body dropped into it. They covered him with the black blanket and pulled the hoods up on their sweatshirts.
“We better not lollygag after all,” Janet said. “It’ll take a solid five minutes to get out of the park. Now I’m wondering if cops patrol this area.”
“I’m sure they do.” Gail scanned their surroundings then grabbed the wagon handle and walked at a quickened pace into the tree cover. She was thankful that Janet matched her stride. “Hit the light, Mom, so I can see how it looks back here.”
A couple of on-and-off bursts with the flashlight showed them enough. The body would be well hidden, but if vultures circling the area eventually raised the curiosity of people in the park, then so be it. The man was unidentifiable, anyway.
They tipped the wagon, rolled him out, and covered him with twigs and branches.
“Let’s go.” Gail pulled the wagon to the path and then folded it into the collapsed shape.
Janet quietly chuckled as they walked to the van. “The cops will be going in circles. One guy in plain sight and another hidden deep in the woods. They won’t know if they’re working with one killer or if a copycat has joined in on the fun.” She brushed the dirt and twigs from her clothes, and Gail did the same before they climbed into the van.
“Wait. We have to get rid of the drop cloth and his clothes.” Gail walked to the back of the van and jammed the white sheeting and his shirt, pants, and underwear into a plastic trash bag they’d brought along. Janet drove, and several miles away, Gail pointed at a random dumpster on a side street. “I’ll throw it in there.”
Janet rolled to a stop, and Gail jumped out and stuffed the trash bag deep into the bin. They continued on until they reached the safety of their apartment, where the next items on their to-do list were breakfast, strong coffee, and planning the abduction of another man.