I made sure to shut Lila up before she could say anything else.
My hand had covered her mouth the second Jennifer's shadow stayed too long outside the door. Lila bit me for it on instinct. Not hard enough to break skin. Just enough to say she could.
Now Jennifer was finally moving away.
I stood at the peephole, one eye pressed to it, watching the hall. The lights outside buzzed low and yellow. Her boots clicked against the concrete floor, slow and steady, until she turned the corner.
Then nothing.
A crackle came through the wall from her radio. A muffled voice. Her voice answering back.
I couldn't make out words.
Didn't matter.
My stomach still tightened.
What a strange woman.
When the hall stayed empty another few seconds, I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
I turned around.
And froze.
Lila stood in the middle of the room staring at me.
