Chapter 361

‘A parcel? Let me see it,’ I said, then thought to ask, ‘Was there a return name or address?’ Maybe it was something I’d ordered while shopping. ‘No,’ Geoffrey replied. ‘That’s the strange thing. It was delivered by a courier, but it only has your name and address on it.’ How odd. Geoffrey went to fetch the package. It was a small, corrugated cardboard box, sealed tightly with tape. Just as he’d said, there was no sender information, only my details. I took it, found a pair of scissors, and cut the tape to see what was inside. The moment I opened it, I gasped and threw the box away from me. ‘Agh!’ I turned my head away, a dry heave wracking my throat. ‘Get rid of it! Now!’ Geoffrey was equally startled by what lay on the floor: a dead, skinned rat, its body glistening and bloody. ‘Oh dear! I’m so sorry! Are you okay?’ ‘I’m…’ I wanted to say I was fine, but that would be a lie. Without delay, Geoffrey called for another staff member and instructed them to dispose of the rat immediately.