"Let's go."

He ran past the building.

Shit! Okay, backtrack... backtrack... you've been here before... 2640, 2620, 2600. Good, good...

Sam took the steps in two strides, clinging to the locked entrance door and swinging back to look up at the windows.

There was a dark one up on the fourth floor.

How do I know? How do I know that's you, Diane? How do I know I've stood here so many times before and looked and wanted..?

Buttons. There were buttons around here. Sam looked around until he found the little row of intercom buttons sitting on top of the mailboxes. He reached for the one marked "Simone".

That's not her name. How do I know it's her?

But it was. He knew it was. He knew it was hers by the twist in his stomach at the very idea that laying his finger down on it would make a noise in her apartment. He knew it was hers by the way he almost turned away.

Again.

Again? Not this time.

Bzzt No response. Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt...

Come on, Diane. I know you're up there.

The intercom box in front of him crackled a little and he didn't even wait for her to speak.

"Diane, please let me in. I swear I need to talk to you. Please don't do anything stupid until I get up there, okay? Please, Diane... honey, I - I can't say that... I need you to let me in."

There was a beat of silence, then the mechanism that held the door locked buzzed and released.

As Sam swung the door open, he heard her voice come weak and tinny over the worthless intercom speaker.

"It's too late for stupidity."