Chapter 4

Josephine James was already out there, right outside my door.

She said to Clive, "The delivery guy's gone. Hurry up and pry the lock."

Clive gave a low chuckle. "See how well my poison works? That delivery guy banged on the door forever and never got it open."

"I figure she's dead already. We go in, take whatever we want."

I wanted to hide, but there was nowhere in the apartment to hide.

And once they were inside, they'd come looking for me.

If they saw I was still alive, how could they let me go?

At that thought, I steeled myself.

I took a fruit knife and hid it against my body, then lay face-down in the living room and played dead.

Not long after I dropped down, the door opened.

Leonard let out a startled gasp. "She's dead, right?"

Clive slammed the door shut. "Obviously. I've used this stuff at the factory plenty of times. Works great."

Leonard rubbed his hands together. "This little thing's pretty cute. You mind if I cop a feel?"

Josephine kicked him. "Can you show some backbone for once?"

"I'm warning you both. Nobody messes around. Leave a fingerprint or a hair behind and it's prison for us."

Clive and Leonard mumbled their yes-ma'ams.

I cracked my eyes open a sliver and saw all three of them wearing shoe covers and rubber gloves.

Once inside, Josephine and Clive started rifling for valuables.

And in Leonard's hand was the food delivery I'd just ordered.

Josephine shot him a look and said, annoyed, "What are you doing with that?"

Leonard said, "I'm hungry, and she just ordered it. Free food, why not?"

Josephine snapped, "Go eat it outside. Don't leave any traces in here."

Leonard grunted and carried the food out to the stairwell.

The smell drifted in fast, and Clive sniffed. "Is that duck soup?"

Leonard said, "Yeah, braised duck."

Clive said, "Duck soup's my favorite. Save me some."

He strode out and started fighting Leonard for it.

Josephine cursed. "Two good-for-nothings."

She didn't go out, though. She was busy stuffing my computer, my phone, and my jewelry into her bag.

Outside, Clive and Leonard had already finished the duck soup.

They helped Josephine dig around my place for anything valuable for a while, and then both of them suddenly started saying, "My stomach hurts. Ugh, it really hurts."

Josephine cursed, "Lazy mules always got the most excuses. Two useless animals, what could you two ever pull off?"

"You need to take a crap, go home and do it. Do it here and you leave evidence."

Clive and Leonard clutched their stomachs and ran.

Soon I heard agonized screams coming from Josephine's place.