Bang bang bang.
The knocking on the door outside persisted, but it wasn't as loud as when Charles Carter rang the doorbell earlier. The knocking was very restrained.
Bertha Swift and Melanie Quinn exchanged a glance, feeling more cautious as they hesitated on how to handle it. Suddenly, the sound outside stopped, and then Bertha Swift's phone rang.
Seeing Adam Piers' number, Bertha Swift hesitated for a moment before answering. A deep voice came from the other side, "Open the door."
"Huh?" Bertha Swift let out a light exclamation and hurriedly jogged to open the door.
Melanie Quinn hadn't figured out what was happening when she saw Bertha Swift already at the door. Just as she was about to stop her, she heard a click, and then a man swiftly entered the room. Before she could see clearly what was happening, Bertha Swift was already pinned against the door, and then she heard Bertha Swift's rapid and ambiguous gasp.
