Page 6 of The Sicilian's Obsession
Katima: Why?
Arturo: To pick the one that shows the most of your property for surveillance.
Katima: Oh, that makes sense. I'll be right out.
I heard scrambling behind the door and stepped back as the rustling drew closer to it, not wanting to scare her off. She opened her door tentatively and peeked out. Katima's room was at the end of the hall on the right. I'd bet her father's room was all the way on the left, leaving tons of space between them. Katima whipped out her phone and texted me.
Katima: I know exactly what room you need.
She motioned for me to move aside and walked to the rooms midway through the hall. She texted me again.
Katima: The one on the right has a balcony, the left one doesn't. Both will give you a larger view of the property at night.
Since Katima wasn't talking, I just grunted so she knew I heard her. I chose the room on the right because it was closer to Katima, just in case. She took out a key and handed it to me. Then she texted me.
Katima: I don't clean these rooms, so they stay locked. That way, I'm not tempted.
I nodded and went to grab my duffel. Katima backed away from me and headed downstairs. The silence was deafening. I should have asked her father why she didn't speak. I thought about the few times she spoke aloud, and it was like lightning hit me. Every time she had opened her mouth, she stuttered, except when she was talking to her dad on the phone or when she yelled at me when I walked into her lab. I tucked that information away to analyze later.
