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My mind recoils at the thought of doing research into the Eastern Bloc. All it does is dredge up memories that should stay buried in the deep crevices of my mind. Cold. Hunger. Blood. Screaming. The shouting. A sweat breaks across the back of my neck, turning into cold rivulets under the fans of the lab. Swallowing, I force a smile and tuck my notepad into my bag.

“Well, thank you. I really appreciate you letting me in to see it. You included images in the report, correct? My client is no novice and is guaranteed to ask for them.”

Shifting the bag on my shoulder, I smile and nod. He moves past me to open the door.

“Yes, I’ve included photos taken within the vase, along with a few from the monitor. You’ll be able to explain and show him everything pretty well. If you need anything else, or he wants a consultation himself, just have him call and provide the findings number at the top of the report.”

Reaching the lobby, Dr. Howard extends his arm for a firm handshake before I turn to leave. At least there’s another seemingly competent scientist in this city.

The rest of the day passes by in a haze, but thankfully moves quickly. Pulling my car into the driveway, all I can think about is my growing list of problems. My head falls on the steering wheel a little too hard as I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

Sliding my keys into the lock, I step into the foyer and rest my back against the door. I could fall asleep right here. A cool breeze licks my face, shaking off the exhaustion aching in my bones. My ears hone on the silence throughout my house. A cold shiver skitters down my spine, setting my teeth on edge. I pad slowly through the hallway, searching for any sign of another presence. My mind turns to Ethan; if he were here, it would be a welcome sight. The thought of that distracts me momentarily as a small wave of excitement pulses through my body. I could think of worse things.

My morning mug still sits where I left it. Nothing seems to have been moved. A small sound emanates from the living room. Stepping into the kitchen, I pull a knife from the block as I approach the living room. A cold blast of wind hits my body, freezing me in place. There’s movement near the French doors, which have been left open. The curtains flutter in the breeze as I take a step closer. Scratching against the wood floor sounds from the baseboards. I don’t stop the eye roll as I catch the flick of a small, wiry tail from under the hem of the curtain.

When I pull the curtains back, Gerald sits frozen in place. His eyes widen as his head tilts up to me, caught mid-escape. Shaking my head, I lift him from the floor. His claw pulls the curtain along with it. The only thing holding him back from a successful escape into the unknown is his own incompetence. I peer out into the backyard, but nothing seems disturbed. My eyes narrow around the hedges for any sign of an intruder. Confident no one is there, I close the door and lock it.

After a full examination, I don’t find one thing out of place. Flicking on the light in my bathroom, I examine the last room. Again, not a thing out of place. Shucking off my clothes, I pull out my phone and send Ethan a scathing text that next time he plans an impromptu visit, he should make sure the door is locked before he leaves. If not for my sake, then for Gerald’s. If anything ever happened to him, there would be many terrible deaths. Gruesome, long, tortured deaths.

Sinking into the bubble bath, my muscles begin to ease. Humming along to the Casino soundtrack playing on my phone, I rest my head back against the bath pillow. Just when I reach the height of relaxation, my playlist is broken by the sound of ringing.

Ugh.

Slipping until my ears fall under the water, I wait until the playlist resumes. I sing along with the lyrics, but again, the phone rings. Another call. Fucking obnoxious.

Drying my ear with the washcloth on the side table, I pinch my earpiece and fit it into my ear. A quick tap later and the call connects.

“Helll-o-o,” I answer playfully as I blow bubbles from between my palms.

“Patience, are you all right?” The alarm in Ethan’s voice defuses my playfulness instantly.

“Yes. Except you interrupted my bubble bath, almost let Gerald out and left my back door unlocked. Thanks for that. With how anal you are, I had expected⁠—”

“It wasn’t me.”

His low, strained voice sends a new wave of alarm throughout my body.

“What?”

“I’m still out of town.”

The tightness of his words has a second round of adrenaline rushing through my body. I checked the house, and the door is locked now, but it still means someone else was in my home. Bubbles slide off my skin as I rise to my feet and tiptoe across the bathroom. Pulling the door closed, I lock it and turn my attention to the cabinets under the vanity.

“Patience!” Ethan screams over the phone.

“What?” I say in a hushed voice.

“You got fucking quiet. That’s what.”

I kneel to open the cabinet.

“Yes, well. You just told me it wasn’t you who left my back door open and I’m currently naked in my bathroom. So, I thought it would be best to close the door.”

A low growl sounds over the line. The sound is somehow incredibly comforting. My thighs grow slick for a whole different reason than a bubble bath.

“I’m sending someone over. Just stay there.”

The last fucking thing I need is another stranger entering my personal space.