"Mrs. Stevens." I lowered the gun before she could see it. "Just getting some exercise. What about you?"
"The same, dear," she said. She held grocery bags in either hand, and a hint of sweat on her brow. "I always walk up the last few floors. I might be old, but I like to keep in shape. Don't tell anyone," she added in a conspiratorial whisper. "They'll think I'm a crazy old woman, traipsing all the way up here."
"They wouldn't dare." I rose to my feet. "Would you like some help with those?" I started to reach for one of her bags, but she waved me off, moving them out of reach.
"No, no, I've got this. This is my floor anyway." She nodded toward the door behind me.
"Right," I hurried to open it for her, and let her walk past me and through. If Forrest's elderly neighbor wasn't a paid thug, where the hell were the three of them?
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath and started to bolt back up the stairs.
The sound of Forrest's movements were long gone. I had no idea how far ahead of me he was. At this point, he might be back at the penthouse.
He might also be pinned down by one of the three thugs he'd seen on the security camera. I hadn't seen much over his shoulder, just shapes moving into the stairs.
Were they thugs or other residents? My instincts screamed at me that I needed to hurry the hell up.
I glanced down every so often, making sure I wasn't followed. I was tempted to duck out through the next doorway and take the elevator, but without knowing where anyone was, it was too great a risk.
This was safer than being trapped in an elevator, or having someone hit the emergency brake while I was between floors. Who knows how long it would take to get out of there if I was stuck? They were probably hoping that's what I'd do, but I wasn't born yesterday, not even the day before.
I felt like I hadn't slept since then. The adrenaline had faded from my system.
On the up side, I hadn't accidentally shot a harmless woman in the head. That would have been all sorts of bad juju. Not to mention highly illegal, and something I didn't want to have to live with for the rest of my life. It would be just my lucky to end up in court in front of Forrest, with him having to sentence me to prison forever. The inmates would have a field day with a guy like me.
Hard pass.
I grabbed hold of the railing to pull myself up to the next landing. Why the hell did the penthouse need to be at the very top of the building? I might yell at Forrest later for that.
Sure, it had a great view of the city, but at times like this? It sucked hardcore. Not in the good way either. For a moment I wished I was my brother. He'd get up the stairs more quickly, being as fit as he was.
On the other hand, I was me, so I didn't have anything to envy anyone about, even him. Also, in a situation like this, I wouldn't get a penalty for high sticking, tripping, holding, or roughing.
Yeah, I had it pretty sweet.
I slowed as I approached Forrest's floor. I hadn't seen or heard a sign of him. The stairs were in silence, except for the ragged sound of my breathing.
I reached the door at the end of the landing and placed a hand on handle, ready to open it.
The moment my hand touched the metal, a loud bang sounded on the other side.
Sable
Woody aimed his gun as the front door opened. Lowered it when he saw Forrest step inside.
"You hesitated," Forrest said to him.
"Lucky I did," Woody said, "otherwise I would have shot your face off."
"Lucky it was me." Forrest closed the door behind him and tapped on the security panel again.
"Where's Leif?" I asked.
Forrest glanced back, looking up and down at my outfit with amusement. "Dealing with someone back there in the stairs."
"By himself?" Why would Forrest leave him there alone?
"There was only one of them," Forrest explained. "The other two I saw on the camera." He shook his head and peered at the screen. "They have to be here somewhere."