He walked into a silent, empty house.
"Hi Hector," he said as he approached the parrot's cage. "She's gone."
The bird leaned as if to look for Linea behind him.
He threw the keys to the SUV on the table, went to the refrigerator to retrieve a beer and proceeded to collapse on the sofa. He never consumed alcohol when he was training slaves, but now he downed half the can in one drink.
"I didn't think she would do it." He held the cold bottle to his temple, trying to ease the pounding. "I really didn't think she would do it."
Why didn't you tell her?
"Emlee. Emlee." Hector called from his cage.
He looked to the parrot and released a heavy sigh. "Hector. I don't know what you're saying."
"Emlee. Emlee."
He set the empty beer can on the table and sat up. "Emlee. Are you saying Emily?
