The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 199
Leilani watched the man standing outside her door. He looked vaguely familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.
While Leilani observed him, the man was observing the apartment. He waited a few seconds, realizing there was no response. Suddenly, he looked up, glancing directly at the camera lens.
Even though they were separated by a door, that momentary eye contact made Leilani’s gaze harden. This man was testing to see if anyone was inside. If this were a simple burglary, would he need to be this cautious?
Something was wrong.
Leilani held her breath, making no sound.
Sure enough, seeing no reaction from inside, the man stopped ringing the doorbell. He pulled a long, slender tool from his pocket, bent down, and aligned it with the lock.
The sharp click of metal grinding against metal traveled clearly to Leilani’s ears.
Lock picking? She immediately took two steps back, grabbing a baseball bat from the entryway closet.
At the same time, she dialed 911, her eyes fixed on the door without blinking. The sound of the lock being manipulated continued.
The call connected quickly.
“This is Leilani Sloan, the owner of unit 1801, Building 7 at Celestial Heights. Someone is forcibly picking the lock to my home. The suspect is male, between 5’7″ and 5’9″. He’s wearing black clothes and a black hat, holding lock-picking tools. Based on the video feed, I believe he is armed. I am home alone. Please send officers immediately.”
Even facing a break-in while alone, Leilani remained calm and composed. Her description of the situation and address was clear and concise.
Despite her steady tone, the dispatcher on the other end understood the urgency of the situation.
“Okay, Ms. Sloan, help is on the way. Officers are being dispatched immediately. I need you to go to your bedroom and lock the door. Do not engage with the suspect. Please stay on the line with me.”
The call didn’t disconnect, but Leilani didn’t listen to the dispatcher’s advice to retreat to the bedroom. Instead, she tightened her grip on the baseball bat.
The local precinct was within the jurisdiction of Celestial Heights, only a few hundred yards away. Less than five minutes after Leilani made the call, the sound of sirens, growing louder as they approached, echoed from the street below.
The man outside clearly heard the commotion. The movement of the lock pick stopped abruptly.
Leilani watched through the video doorbell interface. As the sirens got closer, the man stared gloomily in Leilani’s direction-right at the camera-for nearly a full minute. It was that specific action that convinced Leilani that this wasn’t about money. He was coming for her.
18:37
A moment later, the man quickly vanished from her doorway.
Leilani followed his trajectory to the bedroom, peering through the gap in the curtains. A dark figure was briskly crossing the landscaping below, quickly disappearing around the corner.
Three minutes later, the doorbell rang again. This time, it wasn’t the intruder, but the police.
Leilani opened the door and informed them that the suspect had fled upon hearing the sirens. The officers were disappointed the suspect got away, but relieved that the homeowner was unharmed.
Moments later, the property manager and the security team arrived at Leilani’s door.
18:37
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.