9.
The door to my apartment is open.
Correction, the door has been
jimmied open.
“Stay here,” I say, turning to
Anya. “Whoever did this could still be inside.”
“Not on your life, Ren Man,” she
says, following me into the vestibule.
Reaching into my bomber, I pull out
my 9 mm, thumb off the safety. Taking a slow second step into the vestibule, I
move on into the living room, scanning it with the gun barrel. I then head on
across the dining room and into the kitchen. Both appear to be empty. Opening
the door onto the terrace, I can see that no one is hiding out there either.
“Lu,” I say, not loud, but loud
enough for the pit bull to hear me.
That’s when I hear the noise coming
from the other side of the apartment.
“Bedroom?” Anya says. It’s both a
statement and a question.
