Page 81 of Trick or Stalk

A faint sound comes from somewhere behind me.

I turn instantly.

Tiny nails click against the hardwood floor, then stop.

Penny stands in the doorway.

We stare at each other.

Shit.

Her ears lift.

For one second, I expect her to bark and wake Presley.

Instead, her tail wags.

I slowly crouch. “Hey, Penny.”

Her tail starts wagging faster.

“You're a terrible guard dog.”

She walks toward me.

“Seriously. We need to work on this.”

Penny reaches me and sniffs my hand before pushing her head beneath it.

I scratch behind her ears. “Your mom is going to be pissed if you get me caught.”

Mom. The word comes naturally.

Penny leans harder into my hand.

I glance toward the stairs. “You're supposed to protect her.”

Her tail wags.

“Not help the guy who broke into her house.”

Technically, I didn't break into anything. I walked through an unsecured door.

That distinction probably wouldn't mean much to Presley.

When I stop rubbing her ears, Penny turns and trots toward the stairs.

I stand, following behind her.

She reaches the bottom step, then looks over her shoulder at me before she starts climbing.

That little shit is leading me right to Presley.

Penny waits for me at the top.

A smirk curls my lips as I slowly climb, avoiding the places where the old wood looks most likely to creak.

The hallway is dark.