“Sorry,” I said.
She looked at me, then at the door, then at the flowers. She walked past without comment.
I stared at the box, then I walked back and put it upright against the wall so it wouldn’t block the hallway anymore.
Better.
I turned and walked down the hallway again.
Stopped again.
The flowers were still sitting there.
Anyone could take them.
Zoey would never know they existed.
Which meant she would never read the note.
Which meant she would never know I came by.
Which meant I would assume she was not interested.
Which meant this entire situation could collapse because someone stole a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers.
I paced the length of the hallway. Sighing, I headed for the stairs.
Two minutes later I stood outside the building again, and my eye caught the drainage spout.
The spare key was under a rock right beneath it.
You are not entering her apartment. You are placing flowers inside the door. Then you are leaving. That is all.
I took the key and went back in and up the stairs.
I unlocked the door and opened it just enough to slide the flowers through the gap.
The apartment was quiet.
I began gathering the packages to move them inside, then a loud, mechanical sound exploded from the living room.
It sounded exactly like a security alarm.
I froze.
The sound continued. It was so fucking loud.
Then Markie screeched from his enclosure. “INTRUDER.”
I held up both hands. “Markie.”
“INTRUDER.”
“Please stop.”
He leaned forward. “ALEXA! CALL 911.”
My stomach dropped. “Markie.”
