Hanging up, he faced me, expression uneasy. "Um... Sophie says her bathroom bulb blew. She's scared of the dark... I'll check it, change it, be right back." He spoke rapidly, already hunting for his jacket. His averted eyes screamed guilt.
"A Bulb?"
"Change a bulb?" I echoed, voice faint. "Can't she replace it? Call maintenance? Must it be you? Now? At half seven?" He avoided a direct answer. Cold dread shot through me. "Mark, what about our last talk?"
His Dilemma
He paused mid-jacket, frowning in distress. "She... she's frightened. Pitch-black bathroom—she can't go in. Quick fix—half an hour, tops!" He sounded like he was convincing himself. "Watch TV; I'll hurry back!"
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