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She hesitated to take the concrete steps up to the door as they looked like they would sink farther into the ground with any weight.
Risking it, she went up to the front door. Getting the key out of the lockbox, she opened the door.
The smell hit her before she could even go inside. Musty and dirty and most likely moldy. Good thing she came in before the client. She could get the shock and disgust out of her system and then be able to keep a straight face so as to not influence the buyer’s opinion.
She reached for the light switch, but nothing happened. Letting go of the door, she stepped into what was supposed to be the living room. The door slammed behind her.
She jumped and yelped. “Oh, good grief.”
Thankful she had a flashlight, she pulled it out and turned it on.
A shudder passed through her body. She’d been a real estate agent for years, but this was the worst she’d ever seen. Holes in the wall, cigarette burns in the floor. And a dead rat.
Trying other light switches as she walked down the hall, she glanced in the bedrooms. With the windows all boarded up, she found herself almost completely in the dark. In the last bedroom, the carpet was exceptionally filthy. In the center of the room was a giant stain. She walked closer, and pointed her flashlight at the spot.
“Is that blood?” Her insides turned, and she had to fight to keep her oatmeal in her stomach. “Hopefully, Fred is an investor who wants to completely flip this place.”
She went back out to the living space and into the kitchen where she finally found a light that worked. But the light wasn’t one she turned on.
There on the kitchen counter sat a flickering lantern.
Her unease with the situation increased.God, what’s going on?
She closed the space between her and the counter. Her eyes caught a piece of paper beneath the lantern.
The words were written in a crude scrawl. Illuminating it with her flashlight, she was able to read it.
Chapter Five
Joshloweredhisbook.He couldn’t focus on the words at all.God?He didn’t formulate any more words in his prayer but listened.
Something in his gut didn’t feel right about this situation. But there was nothing apparent to give him that feeling. Sure, it was a pathetic excuse for a house, but that happened. Chloe was a real estate agent, and this was part of her job—one she was accustomed to.
He set the book down and got out and walked toward the house.
A shadow shifted to the left of the house.
Josh moved in that direction. Probably wasn’t anything.
Chloe screamed. A thump came from inside.
Abandoning his investigation of the shadow, he ran to the front door and grabbed the doorknob, but nothing happened.
What on earth?
He shoved his shoulder into the door. Nothing.
“Chloe!” He banged on the door with the side of his fist. “Are you okay?” He knocked again. “Chloe!”
Urgency was mounting in his mind. He couldn’t think straight enough to think of what could actually be going on. He just knew something was wrong, and he needed to get to her as soon as possible.
“Josh! I can’t get the door open.”
“Are you okay?”
“Physically, yes.”
He could hear the panic in her voice. “Take a deep breath and see if you can unlock the knob.”
