Chapter 2
Reality snapped back. I glanced at my watch.
I still have time.
I stabbed the open button on the elevator and
bolted.
I dialed my daughter’s number, my hands
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shaking so bad I could barely work the phone. I
told her to stay at her aunt’s house a little
longer. Her dad would pick her up later.
After hanging up, I raced up fifteen flights of
stairs. Seeing my apartment still intact was
such a relief, I locked the door and promised
myself I wouldn’t give them an opportunity to
set anything on fire.
Ten minutes later, I heard someone pounding
on the door.
“Hey, you home? I heard you might be back!”
I peered through the peephole and saw Gladys.
My face went cold.
She was one of the people who killed my
daughter. The mastermind of the whole thing.
Swallowing my rage, I tried to keep my voice
steady. “Yeah, I’m here. What’s up?”
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9:00
Gladys seemed relieved, but still sounded
anxious.
“Well, your lock looks jammed. Rick’s here.
fixing my cabinet, wanna see if he can help?”
I had a bad feeling. I frantically tried the lock.
Nothing. I couldn’t open it.
984
That familiar sense of dread washed over me. I
couldn’t help shivering.
Before I could say anything, Rick’s voice
boomed from the hallway.
“Lock trouble? Let me take a look.”
A second later, I saw him fiddling with the lock
through the peephole. He stood up, shaking his
head.
“This baby’s ancient. Needs a whole new lock.
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9:00
984
Can’t fix it. But for five grand, I can get you in right now!”
I looked through the peephole and fire burned through my chest.
“Five grand?! Are you crazy?!”
“Forget it, I’ll call another locksmith!”
Rick’s voice dripped with arrogance and mockery.
“Let me give you the inside scoop. We locksmiths have a group. I’ve got every building tenant on lockdown. You can’t find anyone else
to open this door besides me.”
His words dredged up memories of the last
time, when he’d said the same thing as he was
holding me for ransom.
I choked out, “Then I’ll call the cops!”
Just as I reached for my phone, the screen
went black. Dead battery. At the same time, I
realized the power was out in my apartment.
Rick was still shouting outside the door.
“So, made up your mind yet?”
When I didn’t respond, he kept going.
“Listen, babe, don’t be dumb! I’m giving you a
deal. You don’t give me eight grand now, you
can forget about getting out today!”
Since my daughter was safe, I didn’t have to
play nice.
“No thanks! I’ll wait for my husband!”
Just as I finished, I smelled that familiar, acrid
scent of burning.
Г
>
A terrible thought slammed into me.
