Ten minutes later, she noticed a faint smell she couldn’t identify.
It wasn’t strong enough to make her panic. It reminded her of something metallic mixed with a strange, unpleasant odor.
She checked the refrigerator, then the kitchen sink.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Duke began barking.
Not his ordinary bark at a passing dog or a stranger near the gate. This was louder, sharper, and more urgent.
“Duke! Stop!”
He ignored her.
He ran to the back door, scratched it, then rushed back toward her.
Vanessa frowned.
“What’s gotten into you tonight?”
She opened the back door, expecting him to run into the garden.
Instead, Duke stood at the threshold, sniffed the air, and immediately turned around.
He hurried back inside and pressed his nose against her hand.
For the first time, Vanessa felt a little uneasy.
She called her younger brother, Daniel.
“Hey, are you busy?”
“Not really. What’s wrong?”
