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Erica and I walk across the lawn to the concrete path that connects her driveway to her front steps. I lace my fingers with hers as we approach the porch where her automatic light has already switched on, flooding the vicinity with its warm glow.
We both stop. I grip her hand harder as the meaning of what I'm seeing penetrates my mind.
The front door hangs ajar, though the interior is dark and silent.
For a few seconds, all I can do is stare at the door while my jaw clenches and my muscles go rigid, tensed in preparation for whatever awaits us inside Erica's house. Someone has broken in. They must've done.
I let go of her hand. In a crouch, I creep toward the doorway.
Erica tugs my sleeve. When I glance back, she mouths, "Nine-one-one."
I nod and mouth, "You call."
Then I push the door open further and sidle through the opening.
My eyes haven't had time to adjust to the gloom inside the house, so I tiptoe into the living room, hoping to avoid crashing into furniture if I move more slowly. I also don't want to surprise the intruder and get myself shot or stabbed. I will make my presence known as soon as I find out who has breached the house.
Halfway across the living room, I freeze. Is that breathing I hear? Or the central air kicking on?
Something scrapes across the carpeting nearby.
I clench my fists harder, my jaw too. I've found the intruder, but I can't see the bloody ersehole.
A shadow moves across the kitchen doorway, heading this way, but I can't distinguish the intruder from the walls.
"Show your face," I snarl. "The police are on the way, so you might as well give up."
More scratching of shoes on carpeting. More breathing noises.
The intruder moves into a wedge of wan light that's spilling through a window.
I lunge for the bastard.
He punches me in the gut.
"Och!" The shout bursts out of me along with all the air in my lungs.
The intruder hits me in the jaw, but when he tries to punch me again, I throw my fist out to catch his in my palm, closing my fingers around his fist and twisting his arm behind him.
He kicks me in the shin.
I lose my grip and stumble sideways, then knock into the wall when my opponent pulls his arm back for another swing. This time, I slug thebod ceann, making him cry out like a mewling bairn, then I lock my arm around his neck in a choke hold.
The overhead light comes on, blinding us both for a moment.
My captive thrashes and paws at my arm but can't break free.
Finally, my vision adjusts enough that I can see the face of the ersehole who has broken into Erica's home. It's the whingeing wee scunner, Presley.
Erica stands just inside the living-room threshold, not far from where I'm restraining Presley beside the sofa.
I fist my hand in his hair and yank it back so hard his eyes bulge. "What the hell are ye doing in mah woman's house?"
Erica's hand flies to her chest, positioned over her heart, and her eyes widen as she glances back and forth between me and Presley.
"Tell me!" I roar.
Presley gags and splutters.
