TIMOFEY
I head in the direction of my room, but when I reach it, I keep walking. I take a side hallway, looping back around to the back staircase, and then I go outside to the patio beneath Piper's room.
I can see light from her window splashing across the grass. I lean against a wooden banister and pull out a cigarette. If I'm lucky, I'll get through the whole thing before I'm interrupted.
But a few puffs later, I see a shadow cross the square of light in the lawn. I hear the rattle of metal against stone as someone climbs out of Piper's window and shimmies down the trellis.
Blyat'.Just once, I wanted to be wrong.
I sigh and drop my cigarette to the ground, smashing it down with the toe of my boot. Then I stroll to the edge of the patio with my hands in my pockets and wait.
