Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The Summons

The woman’s voice is meek and gentle. If she had said anything else, I wouldn’t have thought for a second that she was a threat. She didn’t, though. She said that Isaak Crowin had commanded me to come speak with him.

I walk over to the door and peek through the peephole. The voice belongs to a woman with short, well-kept, dark hair. She wears a small red dress and large hoop earrings. Her face seems expertly decorated, as if she were an extremely valuable trophy.

I retreat into the bathroom. She probably hears me do that, but once I have the door closed, I think I’ll be able to talk to Nick without her hearing. I call him.

“Excuse me,” the woman says, just a hair more sternly. “Sir, you need to come out!”

I ignore her, for now. Nick answers the phone. “Hello?”

“Someone’s at the door,” I whisper.

Nick starts whispering as well. “Who?”

“I don’t know, but she said Isaak Crowin ordered me to speak with him.”