Page 15 of Dead Pretty

It’s not a request.

I roll my eyes, not that he can see, and say, “Yes, Drill Sergeant.”

Cole laughs. We say our good-byes, and I hang up the phone.

I go straight to the bathroom and put the tub plug in. After turning the hot and cold taps on, I pour some bubble bath in.

I wander into my bedroom, tossing my cell onto the bed. I lift my top, ready to take it off, when I hear a noise that stops me dead in my tracks.

Slowly, I lower my top back down and strain my ears to listen over the sound of the running taps.

It’s like … a tapping … no, a scratching noise.

Cold slivers down my spine.

My head swivels, my eyes looking around my bedroom and my ears trying to locate the source of the sound.

But it’s hard when my pulse is pounding loudly along with my heart.

I reach out, grabbing my cell off the bed. Pressing the off button to bring up the emergency call service.

It sounds like it’s coming from the living room.

Phone in hand, I walk quietly down the hall, going toward the living room, in the direction of the sound.

My eyes zero in on the front door.

The noise is coming from there.

Someone is outside my door.

Shit.

A dozen memories assault my mind, making me feel sick and dizzy.

Not again. Please not again.

Calm down, Audrey. Tobias is in prison.

You’re safe. It is not happening again.

Scratch. Scratch.

I need to just check this out.

It’s probably nothing.

Hand curled around my phone, I walk on silent feet to the door. Rise up on my tiptoes and look through the peephole.

The hallway is empty.

Scratch. Scratch.

I jump back. Heart pounding.

Jesus.

I need to call the police.