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Two forty-five

“Francis,” she whispered, lurching to her feet

She raced to the front door and flung it open The storhs lay tangled across her lawn Falling leaves blew along her fence line The driveas empty

“Mom?”

She spun around, her heart pu so loudly, she could hear it in her ears, and saw Lina standing in the living room, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders “Hi, honey,” she said in a shaking voice, reluctantly closing the door “Did the TV wake you? I’m sorry”

Lina shook her head

For the first time Madelaine noticed how pale Lina was She crossed the room toward her “Baby, are you okay?”

“Don’t call htened the blanket around her body “I had a nightmare—… I-Is Francis here yet?”

Madelaine hid her fear behind a quick, darting smile “No, not yet, but you know Francis…”

The phone rang

As one, Madelaine and Lina looked at the phone, then at each other They shared a single desperate thought: Oh, God, not a phone call in the ht

Lina took a step backward, shaking her head “Don’t answer it, Mom”

Madelaine stood there, unable to ain, and she ju hands, lifting it to her ear “H-Hello?”

“May I speak to Madelaine Hillyard?”

She recognized the voice instantly—it was cold, impersonal authority “This is she”