Intruder

I almost jumped out of my skin. A scream died in my throat as I stared at Kingsley Lancaster. Strangely, he looked more nervous than me. ‘Sir, sir, I got the keycard!’ A man wearing a manager’s tag jogged over, panting. When he took in the splinters of wood broken off from the doorjamb, he looked like he’d been punched in the gut. The manager glanced at me, then forced a smile. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. ‘I’m glad the young lady is fine. I’ll, ah, I’ll find someone to fix the door.’ Kingsley inclined his head. The manager bowed slightly before leaving. Kingsley stepped into my room. There were still traces of anxiety on his face. He looked embarrassed. ‘Sorry, I thought…’ ‘What?’ When he averted his eyes, an idea suddenly occurred to me. ‘Did you think I was dead?’ Was that why he broke down the door? ‘You thought I, what, committed suicide in a hotel room?’ The idea sounded so absurd, I had to laugh. He smiled awkwardly, but heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I, ah, I heard you cryi