California Fire And Life

116

Letty wakes up with a start.

A sound outside.

Footsteps on the deck.

She picks up her weapon from the side table by the bed and holds it in her good hand as she eases along the wall to the door.

Settle down, girl, she tells herself. Her heart's racing and her hand's trembling.

She gets to the door and looks out through the glass panes.

Can't see a thing.

She lifts the slinged hand up and turns the doorknob. Then kicks the door open and bursts out onto the deck in the shooting position. Swings right – nothing. Swings left The raccoon scrambles down the steps.

"Shit," Letty says.

Puffs a long sigh and gets her breath back.

Then she laughs at herself and makes a note to get bungee cords for the garbage cans.

Shuts the door and starts to go back to bed.

But her arm's hurting so she goes into the bathroom, turns on the light, and takes a couple more Vikes.

Turns off the light and goes back to bed.

Lev's pressed against the corner of the house.

He watches the light come on and then go off again.