It was time to go.
He looked around once more.
The storm was passing. The thunder was now a distant rumble, but the rain continued to splash against the windows.
He had done all he could to safeguard himself. The time was twenty minutes to two. With any luck he wouldn’t meet anyone at this time on the stairs. He crossed to the front door, turned off the light, and reached for the door handle. If he met someone… He had to make an effort to turn back the catch on the lock. Then he heard a sudden sound outside that turned him into a frozen, panic-stricken statue.
Against the front door, he heard a soft scratching sound.
He held his breath while he listened, his heart hammering.
To his straining ears came the sound of soft snuffling. There was a dog outside, and he immediately remembered the fawn Pekinese, and then he remembered Raphael Sweeting.
He had forgotten Sweeting.
Sweeting had seen him return to the apartment with Fay. Ken remembered how the fat little man had stared at him, as if memorizing every detail about him. When the police discovered Fay’s body, Sweeting was certain to come forward with Ken’s description.
Ken shut his eyes as he fought down his growing panic.