There was a kind of silence this far north that Eve wasn't used to. The wooden beams creaked every so often, and the firewood sometimes popped in the fireplace, but there was no shouting, no distant police sirens or muffled arguments from neighbors.

No human noises. Only nature, all around her.

Not even a ping on her cellphone to help either.

If Eve wasn't so damn tired, she'd be mad at Villanelle for going so long without sending any sign of her well-being.

As it was, Eve could only wait. She had gotten her target, now Villanelle needed to get hers.

If only Eve could sleep. That would make time fly by faster. Unfortunately, all Eve could do in nights like this was to sit by the fire, and let her mind exhaust itself with worry.

Villanelle would be here by dawn. Then, they could sleep.