Page 35 (2/2)

"Systes are acting loopy The sarge sent a team to the thirtieth floor for some reason but told us to sweep this one Make sure they left"

"You really think the Sarge meant it?" the man asked

"What?" the woman replied Michael closed his eyes and concentrated, as if that would help hi about"

The wo "Yeah I think he ue, and then there were a few seconds of silence

"Whatever," theas I get home for supper I’m sick of this crap"

The woman snickered "Cry me a river Come on, let’s search these cabinets It’s a perfect place to hide"

Panicked, Michael realized he had to reposition himself to be able to strike out when they opened his cabinet door Quietly, slowly, he shifted to get onto his knees, his back scraping the low top of the space He’d co open, he’d launch hi bloody ht eye, and he swiped at it, waiting for the inevitable Someone stood just inches away--he could sense their presence, alht outside his door, then get quiet Maybe he or she had crouched down, reaching for the handle of the cabinet that second Michael braced hi happened Seconds ticked by

One, two, three, four, five

Not a sound

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

Nothing

Then the scrape of a shoe against the floor, still close

Silence

Michael realized he’d been holding his breath, as if it had been locked inside his chest Carefully, he exhaled through his nose and sucked in a slow pull of air Another scrape, thenNeither of the people in the kitchen had said a word