Careful not to make the floor creak again, John sneaked down the hallway to the ajar door at the end. He heard a small droning sound coming from the inside. Snoring? Hopefully. Gun still held at point, he used his foot to slowly push open the door until he could see the layout of the room.

The first thing John noticed was a bed. The second thing he noticed was that it was empty. As these small facts registered in his mind, he heard the clicking of a revolver hammer coming from behind him.

“Don’t move! I’m calling the cops!” the man said hysterically. John did as he was told; guns plus emotional distress almost always equals somebody dead.

From behind him John heard the dialing of a phone and the man said “Help me please, someone’s broken into my house! He’s got a gun!” John listened calmly as the man gave his name and address and hung up the phone. He had to act quickly, before the police arrived. But with his back turned, he had a distinct advantage.

The man couldn’t see his face.