California Fire And Life

121

The noise on the deck wakes Letty up.

Rattling of garbage cans.

"Damn raccoons," she says as she gets out of bed.

Stumbles for the door and this time doesn't bother to take her weapon. It's not like she's going to shoot the damn thing.

Lev waits by the corner of the deck.

Make it look like a rape, is what the pakhan said. Then tear her up with the knife. Just another psycho-sex murder in the Southland. Film at eleven.

He poises the knife in his left hand.

Hears her footsteps.

Hears her open the door. Sees her step out.

" Vamos!" Letty yells as Lev starts forward. Something stops him.

A tight cord around his neck pulls him back and down the steps.

Letty hears the raccoon run off and closes the door. Locks it and goes back to bed. Whatever the sound was, it's gone now.