It was not a good night to be alone in the house. She chewed on the skin around her nails – a habit she hadn’t fallen back on since childhood. Something was whispering, here with her, yet far away. Turning off the television, she strained to listen. Not that it made any difference. Jennifer glanced at her watch for the tenth time. But tonight minutes dragged like hours as Shelly’s warning gnawed its way into her thoughts. Nine pm, not too late to call her sister and invite herself around. Thick black clouds robbed the moon from the sky, drumming torrents of rain against the roof of her car. She admonished herself as the wipers fought to keep up with the downpour. Stop worrying, Amy would have called if there was anything wrong, she thought, twisting the heat dial as hot air blasted against the foggy windscreen. Her sister looked surprised to see her out on such a bad night. Taking Jennifer’s rain-splattered coat, she offered her the towel draped over her shoulder.
