The Apartment - K. L. Slater Page 0,78

I stop and root about in my bag, listening.

I can’t hear anything from in there, indeed the whole house is just as silent as ever.

I’m an hour earlier than the time I told Lily I’d be back, and I need to use that time well before I collect Skye from her apartment.

I text Mark, who I know is waiting just a short distance away at the Albert Memorial for my ‘all-clear’ message, before turning off the hall lamp so the foyer is lit only by streetlights filtering in through the coloured glass.

Quietly as I can, I unlatch the front door. Mark must have jogged down, because only a few minutes later he appears at the bottom of the steps and I hold open the door as he slips silently into Adder House with a heavy cloth toolbag he picked up from the house he’s working on a few doors down.

It occurs to me what a ridiculous situation I’ve inadvertently allowed here. Cheap rent or not, I’m a woman in my thirties, a mother, and I’m creeping about like a teenager to avoid being ‘found out’ for bringing a visitor back home!

Still, now is most definitely not the time to make a stand. It’s more important that the other residents are not aware of Mark’s presence while he carries out the various ‘checks’ we talked about in the pub.

I close the door softly behind him and click the latch, leading him to the stairs. We’re halfway up to the first floor when I hear the sound of Dr Marsden’s door unlocking.

I poke Mark to chivvy him faster up to the top of the stairs and then I grip his arm and press my finger to my lips.

Light floods down below us as the Marsdens’ apartment door opens.

‘Michael!’ Audrey’s irritated voice rings out. ‘The lamp in the hall is out again.’

A shuffling sound and then Dr Marsden sighs. ‘I only replaced the ruddy thing last week. I’ll go and get another bulb from the drawer, now.’

‘I’m sure I heard something out here.’ Audrey’s footfalls sound across the tiles in the foyer. Then a rattling. ‘The door’s secure. It must’ve been the wind.’

Her footsteps move back across and then stop at the bottom of the stairs.

‘Hello?’ Audrey calls out. I hear her step on to the first stair and my heartbeat jumps up into my throat, threatening to choke me. I take a step back and Mark’s hand steadies me. ‘Is anyone up there?’ Audrey calls.

‘Come back inside, dear, and I’ll sort the bulb out when the film has finished.’

‘I swear I can smell perfume in here,’ Audrey grumbles as their apartment door closes again, and I curse myself for using a liberal spray of Thierry Mugler Angel before I left to meet Mark at The Britannia.

Once we’re sure the Marsdens really are back inside, we continue tiptoeing up the stairs, past Lily’s apartment and up to the top floor.

I wave my key card in front of the lock, and I hear the soft click that tells me the door is now open. Mark taps my arm and I look at his face, shadowed in the faint street light emanating from the landing window.

‘Who lives here?’ he whispers, jabbing a forefinger at next door.

‘It’s empty,’ I hiss back.

I reach for the light switch and Mark moves to block my hand.

‘Not yet.’ He pushes me very gently back against the door and his fashionably stubbled cheek slightly grazes mine as I inhale the bergamot scent of his aftershave.

For one crazy second I think he’s going to kiss me, but then I realise he’s just being cautious until he’s fully checked the place out.

‘Wait here,’ he says gruffly. ‘Never know who might be watching.’

I shiver at the thought and slip off my shoes. I put down my handbag by the door and watch as Mark inches silently down the hall, close to the wall.

He slips inside Skye’s room. ‘Make us a drink and I’ll knock on the wall when I want you to come in,’ he whispers, pushing the bedroom door closed behind him.

I go to the kitchen and stick the kettle on. I’m not sure whether Mark is expecting a wine or a beer, but it’s strong coffee I think we both need.

After about a minute, there’s a soft tapping on the wall. I turn the kitchen light off and step into the hallway again. Skye’s door opens and Mark beckons me in, signalling for me to stick close to the wall when I’m