THUD.
The kettle's whistling now, but it sounds wrong. Too high-pitched. Too urgent.
I type:What kind of disturbances?
THUD.
The response takes longer this time:Perhaps we should discuss this in person. Are you available this afternoon?
The kettle's whistle becomes a shriek. I rush to turn off the hob, but my hand freezes over the knob.
Because the sound isn't coming from the kettle.
THUD.
It's coming from behind me.
I spin around, heart hammering wildly.
Nothing. Empty kitchen. Steam rising from the forgotten kettle like ghostly fingers.
THUD.
The sound reverberates through the floorboards, up my legs, into my spine. Whatever's happening, it's not supernatural. Buildings don't develop poltergeists. They develop structural problems, plumbing issues, neighbor disputes.
Neighbor disputes require documentation.
I pick up my phone and hit record, holding it toward the wall where the sound seems strongest. The app captures ambient noise of the traffic, my own breathing, the building's usual creaks. But when the nextTHUDcomes, the audio levels barely register.
Brilliant.Either my phone's microphone is broken, or I'm losing my mind.
I receive another message from Detective Inspector Lowery:Ms. Ruiz, we really do need to speak. There have been reports.
What reports?I type back.
No response.
THUD.
Right. Enough mystery. Time for practical solutions.
I head for the door. The leasing office sits three blocks south, squeezed between a Turkish barber and a shop that sells nothing but phone cases. I've been there exactly twice, once to sign the lease, once to argue about the deposit when the previous tenant's pet somehow damaged walls I'd never seen.
The hallway feels different now. Heavier. Like the building's holding its breath.
Mrs. Patterson emerges from the lift again, this time clutching a small dog that resembles an agitated mop.
"Still going on, isn't it?" She adjusts her grip on the dog. "Precious here hasn't stopped trembling."
Precious looks like it trembles professionally, but I nod sympathetically.
"I'm heading to the leasing office. File a proper complaint."
"Good luck, dear. I tried calling them an hour ago. Line was busy."
Of course it was.
THUD.
