Page 16 of Dead Pretty

And say what?

There’s a scratching noise outside my door. Please come quickly.

I would sound like a crazy person.

I am a crazy person.

And it’s not like I can call anyone to come check it out.

The only person I have is Cole, and he is hundreds of miles away with no clue as to where I am.

Well done, Audrey.

I could just ignore it.

I could just sit on the sofa and wait it out.

I have lived through this crap once. I know not what to do.

But …

I still have to know.

If someone has somehow found me.

If this has anything to do with Tobias.

I have to know.

For fuck’s sake.

I really hate me sometimes.

Keeping a firm hold on my cell, my finger hovers close to the emergency button.

I open the dead bolts, one after the other.

Please don’t let this be starting again.

I unlatch the chain and turn the lock.

The click sounds loud in the silence. I hear it over the pulse beating in my ears.

I take hold of the door handle.

One. Two. Three.

I push down and yank open the door.

And something runs past me, bumping against my leg.

“Argh!” I yelp, tossing my phone in the air.

Eleven.

It’s the damn cat.

All that stress, and it was a cat scratching on my front door.