Salome’s POV
“I can’t unsee it, Salome, it’s actually rotting,” Richard said, his voice cracking as he leaned against the hallway wall. He looked pale, like he might lose his breakfast right there on the carpet. “Kelly has a dead cat in that room. It looks like it’s been there for months.”
I felt my own throat tighten. I took a step back, my hand flying to my mouth. “Are you serious? You aren’t exaggerating?”
“I wish I was. The smell is stuck in my nose. She doesn’t have the air conditioning on, and the heat is just making the decay worse. It’s the foulest thing I’ve ever encountered,” Richard said. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
“Are you sure it’s an animal?” I whispered. My stomach gave a sharp, nauseous jolt.
Richard nodded firmly. “It’s a cat. I saw the fur. There’s n
