A three AM phone call about a locked room changed everything

screen on the back porch, a soft, tapping sound that kept me awake.

The old radiator in the hallway gave a sharp, metallic knock that made me jump.

My phone, sitting on the green linoleum next to the salt shaker, began to vibrate.

The screen lit up, showing Stacey’s caller ID.

The light was bright in the dark room, casting long shadows across the cabinets continue reading …