Klempner

Damn phone…

What’s wrong with the fucking thing?

I tap in again. Nothing happens.

I’m several floors up, heading back for my hotel room. The signal should be strong up here.

I inspect the screen…

Yes… plenty of signal…

Better contact Dakho… Get him to supply a new one…

A more reliable model this time…

Arriving at my room door…

… A brief shufti along the corridor…

… I’m alone. A quick inspection that my slicked-on hair is still in place…

… It is… a faint dark line against the white paint, which peels away, then drops to the floor as I slide the card into the lock and push the door open…

I toss the useless phone onto my bed then start to shrug off my jacket…

… and in mid-movement, I stall.

My spine prickles and without meaning to, I’m standing stock-still, Glock in hand, staring around the apartment.

What’s wrong?

Working on automatic, my hand follows my eye, weapon aimed, but…

I don’t see anything.

Nothing has moved.

Nothing has changed.

me, riffling the petals on a

with

Really?

down by one of the existing footprints: a perfect

on the table, alongside my breakfast tray. And the balcony is small, with nowhere for an intruder

floor, turn the handle of the bedroom door. With a subdued click,

the pillows, a pair of bath-towels folded, for some

do they

side-table, the usual tea and coffee kit, biscuits, a small box

arm’s length, I flick open first one wardrobe

while shirts garishly printed with pineapples and palm trees might

Only one place left…

to the

statue-still for a long second… ear cocked…

than the mixed warbles and screeches of birds, the hiss of

thrusting out, I kick the door and it bangs open,

I’ve washed away the sweat of the day and the maid

alarms are

What triggered it?

mouth tastes metallic and my heart plays

Calm down…

Breathe…

Think…

What happened?

was barely

Outside then…

Something in the corridor…

crooked to aim the gun-barrel at the ceiling, I dart a look outside. The corridor is still empty; nothing to indicate anyone

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255