And the noise. And Davis wouldknowhe was in here. And...
Wait.
He lurched into the middle of the room, thrust his hand up inside the tasselled lightshade, and twisted the bulb from its fitting. Cold and firm against his nitrile gloves. Then slunk back against the wall, on the leeward side of the door – so he’d be behind it when it opened. Hidden.
But maybe itwouldn’topen?
Maybe DS Davis would come to his senses and realise what he’d done?
And maybe he’d run away like a sane person and not a total...
The door handle turned.
Andrew flattened himself against the wall, holding his breath, still as a corpse as the door swung open and light spilled in from the hallway.
It was faint, though. Like it was glowing up from the ground floor, instead of crashing in from the landing. Not bright enough to make much of a dent in the gloom. Leaving the kid’s bedroom smothered in darkness.
Trembling so hard that his fingers barely worked, Andrew reached into his hoodie pocket and slipped The Knife free of its sheath again. Gripping it tight in his shaky hand, the other covering his mouth. Tears making the room shimmer.
A grunt from the doorway.
Then DS Davis must’ve reached for the light switch, because that distinctiveclicksounded. Only nothing happened – what with the bulb missing.
Davis tried a few more times.
Click, click, click...
Same result.
OK.
Very,veryquietly, Andrew pulled the night-vision goggles down over his eyes again, and the whole room lit up like a bile-green Las Vegas. Just in time to catch DS Davis stepping into the middle of the darkened room.
Davis peered up into the empty lightshade.
On the goggles’ screen, something...radiatedoff him. Something sick and dangerous. Something desperate to slash and tear and destroy.
Partially hidden by the open door, Andrew tightened his grip on The Knife.
He could do this.
Hecould.
All he had to do was lunge forwards and slit this scary bastard’s throat, then watch whatever the hell it was bleed right out of him.
Deep breath.
Do it.
Right now.
Before Davis turned around, saw him hiding behind the door, and battered him to death as well...
But Andrew couldn’t even move.
DS Davis’s head turned to the right: towards him.
Oh God, the bastard knows he’s here.