My steps hesitated, but I couldn't turn back. I didn't want to shout for Archer, either, because he shouldn't be getting out of bed yet. I had my thoughts, as loud as they were, and they were telling me to act natural, to pretend everything was okay, to let the predator feel like this would be an easy victory.

The air closed in slightly from ahead, signaling I was drawing closer to the bath door at the end of the hall. 

I knocked. "Anyone in here?"

I ...