A LOUD SHATTER wakes me from sleep. I squint at light flooding the room and sit up in bed, believing I"d fallen asleep during the middle of the day. Then I remember working late on the computer and stumbling to bed around midnight. I glance at the clock. Eight in the morning, I"ve overslept. I must be tired, or I"m coming down with Nik"s illness. Why didn"t she wake me? Now that I think about it, I didn"t hear her come in last night. If she had, it was past midnight. Did I dream or imagine glass breaking? Did Nikki drop a glass, but why is she home so late?
Eight in the morning,I exit the room, lean over the banister, and glance below and call, “Nikki? Is that you?” There"s no response, but I sense someone in the kitchen. I hurry downstairs and turn the corner into the dining room much to
