Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Everything happened way too fast.

Lester, quick on his feet, managed to raise an arm in defense, but he still couldn't avoid the sneak attack entirely a blast of pepper spray left one of his eyes stinging and blurry.

Sylvia glanced outside, startled. "Ms. Ward? What are you doing?"

Ms. Ward froze in the hallway, realizing who she'd just sprayed. The canister slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was you guys!"

Sylvia's gaze dropped to the rolling can on the floor. Pepper spray-of course.

She quickly ushered Lester inside, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge and helping him rinse his eye. Thankfully, he'd blocked most of it, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

After a couple minutes, Lester took the towel Sylvia handed him and dabbed at his face. "I'm okay. Really."

Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief, pulling out her phone to order some over-the- counter eye drops for same-day delivery.

Then she finally turned to Ms. Ward, who was standing in the foyer looking as guilty as a kid caught sneaking cookies before dinner.

"Ms. Ward, what happened?"

followed. It's been all over the news. I felt like someone was tailing me

laugh. "It's alright. But are you sure

cautious around men. I don't even let the delivery drivers bring food up

was looking for, and he said he was working on renovations in the

to buy apples from the

look at my takeout and asked what it was, how it tasted. I think he was trying to see how much food

why Ms. Ward was so on

scrolled through the building's group chat on her phone and saw

not to open

so slammed with work lately

to Lester, she sighed. "Look at

smile. "I'm fine, really You

Ward still looked mortified, but when she met Lester's eyes,

head back, then. I need to check my door locks. Sorry again for the trouble," she said, already edging

realized what Ms. Ward

probably thinking and felt

flush

but the woman already

had Cheeks