Chapter 1
The hairs on the back of Nora’s neck stood up as the feeling crept over her again—that spine-tingling sense that unseen eyes were watching her every move.
She glanced around the dimly lit parking garage, clutching her laptop bag against her chest like a shield. Nothing but rows of empty cars and concrete pillars stretching into shadow. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered, casting dancing shadows that made her pulse spike.
You’re being paranoid. Again.
That’s what Lila would say. What Nora’s therapist would say. What everyone always said when she tried to explain that something felt wrong.
But she’d learned to trust her instincts. They’d kept her alive in seven different foster homes. They’d warned her when things were about to go bad. And right now, every nerve in Nora’s body was screaming that she wasn’t alone down here.
Nora picked up her pace, heels clicking against concrete, each echo bouncing off the walls and coming back to her like a taunt. Her car was just three rows away. She could see it—her reliable gray Honda that had gotten her through the last five years since she’d finally managed to scrape together enough for a down payment.
Almost there.
Her breath came faster, fogging in the cold January air. Nora fumbled for her keys, fingers clumsy with adrenaline. The key fob felt slick in her sweaty palm.
Click. Click.
She pressed the unlock button twice. Nothing. The familiar beep and flash of lights didn’t come.
“No, no, no.” She pressed it again. And again.
Dead battery. Of course. Because tonight of all nights, when she was already on edge, when she’d stayed late finishing the Morrison audit and the parking garage was practically empty, her key fob would die.
Nora reached the driver’s side door and jammed the actual key into the lock. Her hands shook so badly it took three tries. Finally, the lock clicked and she yanked the door open, practically throwing herself into the driver’s seat.
Safe. She was safe.
Nora slammed the door and hit the lock button, then sat there for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
See? Nothing happened. You’re fine. Stop being so dramatic.
She stuck the key in the ignition and turned it.
Click. Click. Click.
Nothing.
“Come on.” She tried again, pumping the gas pedal like her foster mom Rita had taught her years ago when her old Buick used to do this. “Please, please, please.”
Click. Click. Click.
The engine didn’t even try to turn over.
Her stomach dropped. Not just a dead key fob battery. A dead car battery.
Nora grabbed her phone with shaking hands. She could call Lila—no, she was on a date with Jake tonight. Roadside assistance? She glanced at the time. Nearly nine PM. They’d take at least an hour to get here.
An hour. Alone. In this garage. With the feeling of eyes on her growing stronger by the second.
Movement in her rearview mirror made Nora freeze.
A figure. Dark clothing. Standing between two cars about twenty feet behind her.
Just standing there. Watching.
Her breath stopped. Every muscle in Nora’s body locked up.
