Chapter 20

The curtains at the window to the left of the door rustled, then parted, then quickly closed over the small bespectacled face they had briefly revealed. “There is no one home,” said its voice.

“Then who’s saying that?” Danny asked through the door.

“Rats,” said the voice again. “I mean, Go away. No soliciting.”

“I’m not soliciting,” Danny assured. “I’m here to see Ashok. Is he home?”