The Fifth Body in Room 617

Summary

I’d worked as a residence hall supervisor at Crestview University for five years.

Hopping security gates, sneaking in contraband hot plates, hiding forbidden pets—I thought I’d seen every reckless, half-baked stunt an eighteen-to-twenty-year-old could pull.

During fall break, I took the holiday rounds to check on the students stranded on campus.

In the final room at the end of the hall, all four girls were tucked into their beds, fast asleep.

The windows were shut tight, the headcount was complete, and the digital power meter on the wall showed a perfectly steady, normal baseline.