25
The phone startled Erin from a sound sleep. As she felt for it in the dark, she squinted at the clock – 12:12 a.m. Her immediate thought was that something had happened to her mom, but when she found the phone, she saw it was Duane calling.
‘Hello,’ she mumbled.
‘Where are you?!’ Duane screamed.
She looked at the phone. Swish never screamed. ‘In bed; asleep. Swish, what’s going on?’
‘Check your place. Make sure you’re safe.’
‘I’m fine,’ she said.
‘Humor me – check!’ he demanded. ‘And take the phone with you in case.’
She reached over and turned on the lamp on her night table. Deciding this would go faster if she just did what he wanted, she hauled herself out of bed and roamed her apartment, flicking on lights as she went and checking to make sure the door was locked. ‘Okay, ev
