Page 443 of A Matter of Time

“Yes?” I called out.

“Mr. Harcourt, just wanted to let you know that we’re changing shifts. Do you want us to bring your plates and mugs inside?”

“No, just leave them by the door, and make sure to notify Detective Kage about the shift change as well.”

There was no reply, and I hoped that meant something good.

“What the hell was that about?” Caleb asked under his breath.

“If they don’t call and let Sam know they’re swapping out—and I know he’s keeping track of the time—he’ll send them in here along with the officers out front,” I said flatly, hoping he couldn’t tell I was lying.

Caleb nodded.

“You told me you didn’t want anyone inside with us, I’m just doing what you asked.”

“Good. That’s good,” he muttered, and forced a smile for me.

“How did you get in here?” I asked him.

“Well, I’ve had duplicates of your keys for a while now. I can get in and out of this apartment at any time.”

That was terrifying and made me want to move out yesterday. “Tell me what happened when you were in here before.”

“Before?” he asked innocently.

“I want to know. Please, Caleb,” I pleaded.

He smiled at me. “I came in the first time expecting you to be alone. I thought Sam would be working or something, so when I heard him, I ran and went out the fire escape.”

Which explained why that window had been open.

“And this time?”

“Earlier this morning, during the last shift change, right after Sam left, I snuck back into the building, came in here, and hid in the closet.”

“You were here the whole time?”

“Yeah,” he said, like that was perfectly normal. “I watched you sleep for a while. It was very relaxing.”

I felt my skin crawl, tried to control the tremor that ran through me without success.

“Scary, right?”

I was just staring at him, realizing that his pupils were completely dilated. He looked like he was on something, I just had no idea what. “Tell me what you’re gonna do now.”

“Come closer. I want to look at your eyes. I never look at them.”

My life depended on me moving forward, but I still couldn’t.

“Where’s your mother, Jory?”

“I have no idea.”

“So you’re an orphan.”

“Yeah.”

He nodded. “But not really… You have Dane.”