int, deliberate footfalls still echoed in her head. But the apartment was small.

her voice thin and trembling. "

d its ears, As

nvelopes on the floor, their edges damp with spilled rainwater from her shoes by the door.

en she no

. The one with n

remember br

n caught in the storm. Across the front, in thick black

e hadn't received hand-

g silently to the table. It brushed agains

heart was beating too hard, too fast. She hadn't

rint, the dead phone, now this envelope. It

at if the bloody handp

ed herself back toward the window. Each step felt like wading

oked p

dow was

andp

e frame with both hands. She wante

outside ba

e cat