Page 4 of King of Shadows

He takes a step back and looks me over. “No. You’re perfect like this.”

He glances toward the door, his jaw tightening. “I hate that those bastards are going to see you like this.”

Something about the way he says it catches me off guard. Is that jealousy? I don’t know why that thought even crosses my mind. But there is something in his expression that makes me wonder.

He continues. “But if you open the door like you just got out of the shower, they’ll believe you. That’s the story. You were in the bathroom. You haven’t seen anyone.”

He steps away from me, giving me room. I take a deep breath and force myself to move. The pounding at the door gets louder.

“Hey!” I call out. “I’m coming!”

I walk toward the door, trying to make my movements look normal when nothing about this situation is normal.

My hand closes around the doorknob. I take another breath, then I swing the door open.

“Sarah, if that’s—”

I stop when I find two men standing outside, in police uniforms.

“Oh.” I stare at them for a beat too long before forcing a smile. “Hello, officers.”

One of them looks me up and down. I tighten my grip on the towel.

“Sorry,” I say quickly. “I thought you were my best friend. She has a real talent for banging on my door like she’s trying to break it down. What can I do for you?”

Up close, I get a better look at the men, and something about them doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe it’s the way they’re standing.

They don’t have the relaxed, alert posture I’ve seen from actual police officers at the hospital. These men look too still. Too watchful. Like they’re ready to strike at any minute.

The man on the left has a scar running down one side of his face. The other has sweat gathered at his temple despite the cool night air. Neither of them looks particularly friendly.

And something in my gut tells me to be careful. I hate that I’m even considering it, but maybe the bleeding stranger in my kitchen was telling the truth. Maybe these aren’t police officers.

“Good evening ma’am. There was a robbery down the street,” the scarred man says. “One of the criminals got away. We believe he ran into this building.”

My fingers tighten around the towel. “Oh, really?”

“You didn’t perhaps see a man running across the hallway?”

I force a small laugh. “No, no. I just got out of the shower. I just got back from work, actually, and I was in the shower when I heard the knocking. I haven’t seen anyone.”

The two men exchange a brief look. “Okay,” the sweaty one says eventually. “You should go inside and lock your doors.”

“Of course.” I give them what I hope is a convincing smile. “Thank you, officers.”

I close the door quickly and lock it. The moment the lock clicks into place, I press my back against the door and release the breath I’ve been holding.

“Good girl.”

I jump so hard I nearly scream. The stranger is standing right beside me.

“God!” I press a hand to my chest. “You scared me. What is wrong with you?”

He’s smiling. “You did a great job.”

I take a step away from him. “Thank you. Can you leave now?”

“Not yet. They’re still out there. If I walk out that door, I walk straight into their hands. I have to wait.”