Kiko’s mind was turning to mush. He glanced at the time; twenty to nine. This was about the time of night he couldn’t think anyway. He yawned and began his end-of-day sequence, checking the basement area and shutting off the lights, checking the refrigerated food case, turning off the computer. When his phone chimed he picked up without looking to see who the caller was, anticipating Dom. But it was not Dom’s voice on the other end of the line.
“Kiko?” A woman, familiar, but scared. Kiko froze where he was, hand on Mother’s cage.
“Yes?”
“Oh, God. You told me to call, and I—I don’t know what to do.”
“Karen?” asked Kiko. Mother made an angry noise as he turned away, but something about this call worried him. The background noise was wind, like she was outside, and she sounded terrified.
