Night Patrol Perch

The coffee table was good, but this sofa back is top tier. I scrambled up the ribbed corduroy cushion, using the fabric grooves as tiny toe-holds until I reached the crest. From here, the whole room stretches out in shadows, quiet and massive. Right beside me, the smooth metal clip of a forgotten reading lamp catches a tiny gleam of hallway light. I tapped a two-beat rhythm against the metal bar just to hear the ring—crisp, clear, and totally stealthy. Night shift is looking solid.