“To see his boss,” I said. “And then, the police.”

I reached for my coat, but before I could put it on, a loud knock echoed through the room.

The sound was sharp, heavy, and sudden.

Chloe jumped, her chair scraping loudly against the linoleum floor.

We both stared at the motel door.

The brass chain was slid into place, but the wood looked thin.

Another knock followed, harder this time.

“Anne?” a voice called out from the other side.

It wasn’t Lucas.

It was a voice I didn’t recognize.

I looked at Chloe, and she looked back at me, her eyes filled with a new kind of fear.

“Who is that?” she whispered.

I didn’t answer.

I reached into my bag and gripped the small pepper spray canister I kept in the side pocket.

I walked slowly toward the door, my boots making no sound on the thin carpet.

“Who is it?” I called out.

“Melanie Harper,” the voice replied.

The name sent a shockwave straight down my spine.

“I know you’re in there, Anne,” the woman said through the wood. “We need to talk.”