Chapter 2

There was a knock at the door.

"Ma'am? This is security. I've brought your fresh delivery. Please open the door."

Cold sweat broke out on my back.

I couldn't open that door.

I held my breath, refusing to make a sound.

After a moment, the voice outside faded away.

Had he left? But I didn't hear him walk away.

I tiptoed and slowly brought my eye to the peephole.

What I saw was pure darkness.

Wait a minute.

The hallway lights were on 24/7; why was it so dark?

Suddenly, the darkness in the peephole shifted back half an inch.

The harsh light of the hallway spilled in, revealing the "shadow"—

It was a bloodshot eye.

He hadn't left at all; he was looking inside through the peephole!

I nearly screamed, quickly covering my mouth and nose with my hands.

Stay calm, Avia, stay calm.

He can't see anything inside from the outside.

The next second, he violently twisted my doorknob.

I fished my phone out of my pocket, my thumb hovering over the emergency number.

Just then, my neighbor across the hall opened her door.

"Oh my God!" her voice rang out. "Is that my fresh delivery? Thank goodness! I've been staring at the tracking, thinking it was lost. Sorry to bother you at this hour!"

The man released the doorknob and asked, "Is it yours?"

So it was just a delivery mix-up? I almost called the cops over a misunderstanding in my own apartment.

I let out a sigh of relief and returned to my room.

The next morning, sharp sirens jolted me awake.

I shot up from bed, rushing to the peephole without even putting on shoes.

Yellow police tape blocked off the hallway.

Several armed officers were moving in and out of my neighbor's apartment.

One of the officers knocked on my door.

I opened it.

He flashed his badge, quickly scanning my pale face. "Did you hear anything unusual last night?"

"What happened to her?" I asked, staring at the black body bag being carried out, my stomach churning violently.

"There was a homicide last night. We're interviewing residents on this floor. Did you hear anything unusual?"

It hit me like a ton of bricks: last night wasn't just a delivery mix-up!

That strange man had been after me the whole time! The neighbor girl had mistakenly thought it was her long-awaited package, and he had confused her for me.

I quickly relayed everything to the officer.

"Your awareness saved your life, Ms. Avia, but it also means the killer will realize he got the wrong person soon," the officer said, patting my shoulder. "Listen, pack a few things and get out of here immediately."

After the police left, I hurriedly packed my suitcase.

In the process, I called Carter and told him everything.

"You did the right thing, babe. Get out of there now," Carter's soothing voice came through the phone. "I'll fly back to you as soon as my trip is over."

"Be careful, though. The killer will definitely come after you too."