I did not move from my position in the shadow of the pantry.

The floorboards in the hallway creaked again, closer this time.

The draft from the front door was freezing against the back of my neck.

I reached out and picked up the phone, keeping my thumb over the speaker.

I pressed the button and held the receiver to my ear.

I did not speak.

“Adrian,” Leo Vance said.

His voice was thin and dry, raspy from the cold air outside.

“I know you are in there,” Leo said.

I remained silent, listening to the static on the line.

“The porch light is out, Adrian,” he said.

“It is a very dark night for a walk.”

“What do you want, Leo?” I asked.

My voice was a low whisper in the dark kitchen.

“I wanted to see if you were still keeping your appointments,” Leo said.

“Some of the boys said they saw a sedan idling down the block.”

“It is a winter storm,” I said. “People get stuck.”

“Not people like you,” Leo said.

“You do not get stuck unless you want to be.”