Steve Ortiz

[BIGBEN @fwBen_]

Mallory approached my door, stopped, and stared at the smooth keypad where the lock cylinder had once been.
She pulled the old silver key from her purse anyway, as though a keyhole might appear if she looked hard enough.
Blake tried the handle.
Locked.
Mallory knocked hard.
My phone rang.
I ignored it.
Her message followed.
Give me the code. You’re embarrassing me.
I opened the family group chat and started a private video call.