The alleyway was narrow and dimly lit, the scent of the river and the faint aroma of spices from nearby restaurants mingling in the air. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and slowly made my way down the alley toward the side of the building that held the outside stairs to my apartment.
Anger and anxiety gnawed at me as I climbed the stairs, each step echoing in the quiet of the night. When I reached the top, I paused for a moment, listening for any signs Hartwell was lingering around the bookstore. The city's sounds were my only company—a distant car honking, the murmur of a street performer's saxophone, the rustle of leaves in the breeze. Nonetheless, I hurriedly unlocked the door and slipped inside, closing it firmly behind me.
Mac squeaked a greeting from his cage, and I l
