Something woke Dale. He’d been sleeping fitfully anyway but the noise jolted through his awareness for some reason. Riadh lay quietly beside him, not sleeping because the djinn didn’t actually sleep, he just kept Dale company.
Dale sat up.
“Bad dream?” Riadh asked softly.
“No…I heard something.” Too damn many years of being a Marine kicked Dale’s senses into high gear. The house seemed quiet, too quiet perhaps. There should have been small noises from the neighborhood, the hum of electronics and appliances. Something was distinctly off. Dale sat up and eased the top drawer of the nightstand open. He pulled out his Sig, checked the magazine, and thumbed off the safety.
“What…?” Riadh began
Dale pressed a finger against Riadh’s lips. “It might be nothing. Let me check.” His voice was a
