Chapter 28: Smooth Operator

Zeno did not hear the phone as he descended the spiral staircase from the master bedroom, carrying Abel's Luger pistol. He had taken it from the study after hearing a noise downstairs. Believing it was Ahab, he went into Zelta’s bedroom and temporarily placed the gun on Zelta's dresser while she slept. He then quietly entered the living room where a Christmas tree stood near the window, surrounded by presents.

He was shocked to see Maynard with Abel in the hall. As Maynard took Abel's suitcases upstairs, Abel entered the living room, and they hugged.

"I finished early in New York," Abel told him, kissing him hard on the lips. "So, I came home for Christmas. Surprised?"

"Yes, I am," Zeno replied, struggling to maintain his composure as he remembered Ahab was likely on his way. He contemplated re-setting the alarm when he caught sight of Maynard, who bid them goodnight from the doorway before heading to his residence in the Attached Adu in the backyard.

"What's the matter?" said Abel, sensing something was wrong. "Why do you look so distressed?"

Zeno's heart pounded as he grappled with the chaos unfolding in his mind. He was torn between seeing Abel unexpectedly and the dread of Ahab's imminent arrival, knowing the two could not meet under any circumstances. The thought of keeping his secret under wraps troubled him, leaving him caught in a web of anxiety and fear.

He managed a weak smile, trying to steady his nerves. "It's nothing," he said, his voice barely steady. "Just a bit startled. So, tell me more about New York." He hoped to divert Abel's attention while he desperately tried to think of a way to keep Ahab, who was already creeping up the stairs, from entering the living room.

Meanwhile, Zelta awakened in bed to a faint, rhythmic tapping sound coming from the window, as if someone or something was trying to get her attention. The noise was persistent enough to pull her from her dream, and she strained her ears to determine if it was just the wind or something more ominous. Her heart raced as she considered the possibilities, wondering if she should investigate or stay safely under the covers.

Without turning on the lamp, she rose and made her way towards the door. Her heart skipped a beat, and a cold chill ran down her spine. She froze for a moment, staring at the Luger pistol on the dresser wondering how it had ended up there. Her mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last.
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She picked up the Luger. A surge of fear mingled with a strange sense of empowerment coursed through her veins. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped the cold metal, feeling a burgeoning courage, she didn’t know she possessed.