Page 27 of Close Quarters

As he turned off the alarm, she stood next to him and looked toward the windows. Shards of glass sparkled like diamonds on the hardwood floor. The icy breeze washed away any heat left from their encounter in the bedroom, and she shivered, crossing her arms over her chest.

A black shadow stepped out from the hallway. As she processed that it was a man dressed in black, he raised his arm. Wood splintered behind her at the same time she heard a loud pop from the silenced gun.

“Move!” Alex shoved her to the side, toward the stairs.

Glass shattered as a bullet went through a window. Katie shrieked as more thudded into the wall above her head as they beat a hasty retreat upstairs. Alex pushed her into her bedroom and to the other side of the bed, away from the door. He shoved her phone into her hands.

“Call for help.”

She turned on the screen and hit the emergency call button as he crawled across the bed.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her whisper frantic.

“I left a gun in your nightstand. Just in case.”

“What? You’re armed?”

“Of course I’m armed. We live in bear and mountain lion country.” He yanked open the drawer and withdrew a pistol.

Absently, she noted the larger caliber of the weapon and its suitability for protection from predators. Most of her attention was on the footsteps thundering up the staircase and the ringing in her ear as her phone call went through.

Alex jumped off the bed to take up a spot to the side of the door.

“Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?”

Katie jumped at the sound of the dispatcher’s voice in her ear. Jesus, I need to get a grip.

She sucked in a breath and answered the woman on the other end of the line. “This is Katie Mitchum. I’m with Dr. Randall, and there’s a man in his house with a gun.”

“His alarm rang through to the police station a moment ago. There’s a car on the way, ma’am. Is it just one man?”

“Yes.” The word was barely audible. She could hear soft footsteps in the hallway. The doorknob rattled. Alex shifted his weight. She heard the safety click off as he raised his gun. Katie sank lower until all but her eyes were below the mattress. Spots danced in her vision as her breath came in short, shallow puffs. The door cracked open.

Police sirens split the night. The door stopped moving, and she heard the footsteps retreat in a hurry down the stairs.

She popped up above the mattress. “Is he gone?” she whispered.

Alex lowered his weapon. She could just make out his eyes glittering in the dark room.

“I think so,” he whispered back. “Come on.” He motioned her to come closer.

Rising, she hurried around, grabbing his arm.

“Hold on to my shirt in case I need my hands.”

In answer, she twisted her hand in the bottom of his t-shirt. He nudged the door open and peered into the hallway.

“It’s clear.”

Together, they took cautious steps down the hall, keeping to the shadows near the wall so no one standing below could see them. When they reached the staircase, they paused, listening.

“I don’t hear anything,” she breathed into his ear.

“Me either. I think he left.” He put the safety back on the gun, then took her hand and led her down the stairs, flipping on the overhead lights when they reached the bottom.

“Stay there. There’s glass all over the floor.” He stepped down, staying along the wall. The window next to the front door was shattered now in addition to the sliding door.

“You’re not wearing any shoes, either.”

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