Chapter 2My Landlady Tried to Frame Me, but the Comments Saved Me

Mrs. Boyd called after her. "Linda, what's that supposed to mean?"

Linda straightened up and said, loudly, "Just a joke."

She dragged the suitcase toward the elevator. This time she didn't ask for my help.

The wheels caught and stuttered over the tiles.

I held the door and didn't follow.

The comments drifted past.

[Follow her.]

[Not too close. Get it on video.]

[Don't take the elevator. From the stairwell you can see which floor she goes to.]

I opened the camera and filmed her through the security door.

The elevator doors closed. The numbers dropped from five to one, paused, then lit up at B1.

My heart sank.

There was a row of storage rooms in our basement.

Most tenants didn't have keys. Only landlords and building management had access.

I called Claire. Her phone was still off.

Our last texts were from three days ago.

Claire: Nina, I might be late tonight. The landlady says she's bringing people to see the place. It's annoying.

I had written back: You haven't given notice, have you?

She never replied.

Linda said she moved out last night. But Claire had been silent for three days.

Claire had once given me her mother's number when I picked up a package for her. I found it and called.

It rang a long time before anyone picked up. I said, "Hello, Mrs. Lane. This is Nina Shaw, Claire's roommate. She hasn't been home for three days. Has she been in touch with you?"

After a two-second pause, she said, "No. She said she'd been working late. What's happened?"

I stared at the elevator display, still showing B1, and fought to keep my voice steady. "The landlady says she gave notice and moved out. But all her things are still here. Something's wrong."

Mrs. Lane's voice began to shake. "She didn't answer me yesterday either. Nina, tell me the truth. Has something happened to Claire?"

I kept my worst fears to myself.

"I'm calling the police now."

"All right. I'll get a ticket and come right away."

I hung up and dialed 911.

The dispatcher asked me to explain what had happened.

I told her Claire was missing, that the landlady had asked me to sign Claire's move-out form in her name, and about the silver suitcase that wasn't Claire's.

After making sure I was safe, she told me to stay out of the basement. Officers were on their way.

I had barely hung up when the residents' group chat lit up.

Linda Walsh: @Nina 5F, your roommate Claire has given notice and moved out. You refused to cooperate with the move-out, and now you're accusing me of hiding things. Everyone, be careful renting with people like this. Don't get stuck with a roommate like her.

Mrs. Boyd: I heard the whole thing. Nina went too far. The landlady asked her to sign a form, and she threatened to call the police.

Lee 3F: Girls these days. Too many crime shows.

Linda Walsh: I've been a landlady for over 10 years and never met anyone this difficult. Claire herself said she couldn't stand her. That's why she left in the night.

I stared at "Claire couldn't stand her" and thought about last week, when we had split an order of hot pot soup base.

I took screenshots of every message and saved them.

Before I could put the phone down, someone was pounding on the door.

Linda shouted through it. "Nina, open up. I know you're in there. Did you call the police?"

I put my back against the door.

"Linda, whatever it is can wait until the police get here."

There were a few seconds of silence. Then Linda laughed. "Fine. You'd better pray the police find Claire first."