Fifteen minutes before noon, Lariette and Ruediger left their apartment with two boxes of desserts. They dressed neatly and casually for Mr. Eastwood's housewarming party.
Lariette carried the box with walnut date bites even though the cake box was lighter. Ruediger joked she shouldn't sneakily take another one before they got to the party.
The corridor was quiet save for their footsteps. They saw no one in sight. The recessed lights cast a soft glow, reflected on the polished floor.
Lariette and Ruediger stepped into the elevator. They just needed to go to the floor above. When they emerged a few seconds later, they caught liveliness coming from the hallway.
"That unit," Lariette gestured to the hallway ahead of them, "I think that's Mr. Eastwood's."
The door of that particular unit was slightly ajar. The indistinct echo of chatter and laughter also came from it. Some of the guests had arrived.
Mr. Eastwood had made arrangements with Mr. Hayes, the manager of this apartment.
