Erin returned home quite late the Friday just before spring break. She"d had rehearsal after school, and then a date with Sean, and so naturally, she felt quite relaxed and content. A hint of a smile lingered around her mouth. The clock in the Mustang, after she"d received her final goodbye kiss, had read 11:52, so she locked the front door and hurried to the family room to let the Murphys know she had returned on time. She knocked and entered to see Mrs. Murphy sitting on the sofa with her arms around her daughter. Sheridan had her face buried in her mother"s shoulder, her whole body shaking.
Erin ran right to them and embraced them both, her happy mood dissolving into concern. “What"s wrong?” she asked.
Sheridan couldn"t speak, so Mrs. Murphy answered, her voice bleak. “We got some bad
