Page 64 of Holding Penalty

Are the doors locked?

PIPER

Now who’s being paranoid?

ME

Piper …

PIPER

Why did I imagine you saying that in that growly voice of yours lol

ME

Are they?

PIPER

Yes

ME

Do you still hear something outside?

PIPER

Actually, it sounds like it’s at the door now …

A fist of worry clenches in my chest.

PIPER

I’m going to go outside to check

My eyelids fly open, and my eyes practically touch the screen the way they bulge at her message.

ME

WHAT

ME

Piper, with the stuff you watch, you know that should be the last thing you should do

I wait for her to respond … and wait … and wait. Concern claws at my gut.

ME

IS everything okay?

ME

Piper, answer

A picture comes through from her end—and panic jolts through me.

It’s not a normal picture. It’s nothing but the floor of the living room, with the open door just at the edge of the frame. The picture is blurry, like it was taken and sent by accident while the phone fell to the ground.