of a grandfather clock somewhere in the house and her own ragged breathing. She tried to read the "instructi

n't made a sound. Too still. Even for

his left eyelid. So regula

aned c

anyone was watching, she felt a slight, almost imperceptible resistance from his ne

-aid training, from a summ

ed. This was cra

g for any sound outs

searching for his pulse. It was there, stronger and more regu

ted, a pinpoint. Not the dilated, unresponsive pupils of someone near death or

t dying

being d

al blow. The elaborate story, the religious ritual

was the point

't just a pawn in some bizarre family ritual. She was in a dangerous,