Page 62 of So Smitten

As she opened the door, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her eyes were opened wide, her lips pressed together, her face pale. She saw the fear in her eyes, but worse than the fear was the knowledge.

She opened the door. Turk bolted toward David’s house, but Faith called for him to stop and come to her. He looked at her, saw the knowledge in her eyes and revealed the knowledge in his.

She ascended the steps unhurriedly. There was no point in hurrying. She pressed the doorbell more out of rote reflex than out of intentional delay.

There was no answer. She didn’t bother pressing it again. She knelt down and began picking the lock. It clicked open just as a voice behind her said, “Hey! Excuse me!”

“It’s me, Special Agent Tiller,” Faith said.

“Bold?” Tiller said, furrowing his brow. “Why are you picking the lock? I thought you had a key.”

“I was going to ask him for one today,” she said numbly.

Tiller closed the distance and saw her expression. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

In answer, Faith simply opened the door.