The rain had just started when Damien stepped out of his car.
Chloe's apartment complex stood quiet, almost too calm, the silence that felt wrong. He pulled his coat tighter, climbed the steps two at a time, and when he got to the door he paused. The last time he was here Chloe had thrown him out and ended what they had.
Damien shook his head as if shaking out the memory of that night. He rang the doorbell. Once. Twice. Nothing.
He knocked, harder this time.
"Chloe," he called, voice low but urgent. "Open the door."
But there was no response.
He pulled out his phone and called her. But it went straight to voicemail. He tried again, thumb trembling slightly, but the result was the same. Each unanswered ring fed something cold in his chest.
Then, from across the hall, an older woman cracked open her door. Damien turned, his gaze set on her.
"She's not there," the woman said chewing something he couldn't quite see. "Left two days ago. Had a suitcase."
