13 Chapter 13

But by then Hendrix had leapt right off the bed. He was scrambling to reclaim his glasses from the nightstand, presumably in order to see whatever had obviously frightened him so suddenly. Magnus Renegade was up too, and he’d started to bark, no doubt sensing the sudden tension that had risen ten thousand fold. Robin fumbled his way off the mattress as well, and stood, exposed and twitching, troubled and bewildered.

Rat-a-tatta-tat.

It was a noise he was used to, and until Hendrix spun around, his eyes wide and panicked, desperately searching for its source, Robin hadn’t even realized it had been the reason for the abrupt interruption and change of mood.

“The rain,” Robin said. He reached out for Hendrix, but Hendrix jerked away. “It pools.” Robin pointed at the ceiling. “Up there, then eventually drips onto the metal roof above the back porch.”

“It sounds like…”

“I know. I mean, I didn’t. Now I do,” Robin said.

Rat-a-tatta-tatta-tatta. Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!