The Night Before
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
THE NEIGHBOR
Greg woke to a thud.
His eyes snapped open.
For several seconds, he remained completely still beneath his blanket, staring into the darkness of his bedroom.
Another sound.
Not a thud this time.
A dull, heavy impact.
Greg's heart began to beat faster.
Someone was in his house.
The thought came instantly.
At sixty-three, Greg had lived alone for long enough to become accustomed to the strange noises an old house could make at night.
Pipes knocking.
The refrigerator humming.
Wood settling.
Wind pressing against the windows.
But this was different.
This had sounded deliberate.
Heavy.
Close.
Greg slowly pushed himself upright.
He listened.
Nothing.
He reached for the lamp beside his bed.
The light came on.
Nothing.
His bedroom was exactly as he had left it.
His dresser.
His television.
His old armchair in the corner.
Everything was where it belonged.
Greg frowned.
He got out of bed.
