run. I had no choice but to put up with it now, but what would be the ultimate price?
I SPENT THE NEXT TWO HOURS on the couch in my living room playing with the kitten. I’d spent a small fortune on items for him, and as I stared at my banking app, old reruns of Friends playing in the background, I knew I was in real trouble.
“You’re very cute, but expensive,” I said to the kitten as I scratched behind his ear.
For his part, he didn’t look bothered by the statement. He had a pink feather stuck in his fur from one of the toys and I had no doubt he’d been having a grand time playing while I was at the barbecue.
“I should’ve stayed home with you,” I muttered as the kitten kneaded his claws on my lap. He looked intelligent, as if he understood every word I said. “Or maybe I should just run now,” I murmured. “I could take off tonight, find a job somewhere in the state, and not tell anyone where I’m going. At least then it would be quiet.”
The kitten looked as if he was frowning.
“We both know I don’t have the guts to do that,” I offered. “I think we’re stuck here ... for a long while.”
The kitten went back to kneading.
“I guess it’s not so bad,” I murmured as I went back to stroking his soft head. My eyes drifted back to the television. I’d only had half an ear on the show since I sat down. It was mindless, not hard to keep up on, and I sank back into the flow of the episode.
A few minutes later, a soft scraping sound had me lifting my chin and glancing around. The cat was on my lap, staring at the kitchen. As far as I knew, there was nothing in the restaurant below me that could make that sound. The only equipment, the refrigerators and freezers, emitted a low hum.
I listened for a moment, but the sound didn’t repeat. I managed to push it out of my head and refocus on the television when it happened a second time. I hit the mute button on the remote and stared at the kitchen. I was almost certain that the noise had originated from the back balcony, and given the discussion Hunter and I had had this afternoon, the realization was enough to make my stomach clench.
I risked a glance at the kitten and found he was alert and staring in the direction of the sound. That indicated I wasn’t imagining the phenomenon. Sure, he was a cat, but he was a compelling witness as far as I was concerned.
My fingers shook as I closed out of the banking app and scrolled for Hunter’s name on my contact list. He’d insisted on programming his number into my phone earlier so I had someone to call in an emergency. That was looking fortuitous.
“Hello?” He sounded confused on the other end of the call.
“It’s me.” My mouth was dry.
“I figured that out when I saw your name pop up on the screen.” He waited a beat. “Do you need something?”
“Who is that?” a female voice asked in the background. She sounded agitated.
He was still with Monica. A quick glance at the clock on the wall told me it was barely ten. Of course he was still with her. They were probably spending the night together.
“Is something wrong?” he repeated, drawing my attention back to the call.
“I ... .” What was I supposed to say here? Sure, he’d told me to call if I was afraid or ran into trouble. That wasn’t fair to him, though. He had a life. I wasn’t his responsibility. I hadn’t been for a really long time.
“It’s nothing,” I said finally, feeling like an idiot. “I’m probably imagining it. I’m sorry to ruin your evening. Tell Monica ... tell her whatever you think she should know. I really am sorry.”
He didn’t let me hang up. “Hold on.” I could hear him murmuring in the background, the sound muffled as if he had his hand over the phone. He returned to the call within a few seconds. “Is something happening?” His voice stronger this time.
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me what’s happening,” he growled.
“I thought I heard something by the sliding glass doors,” I admitted. There was no going back now. “The cat heard it, too.”
“What is it?”
“I’m too afraid to look,” I said. “What if there really is someone out there?”
He was silent for