Afewnightslater,TessandIwereasleepinbed,Edwarddownthehallinhisroom.Shewokemebyshakingmyshoulderandspeakingharshlyinasortofshoutedwhisper."Henry,Henry,.Iheardnoisesdownstairs."

    "Whatisit?"

    "Wouldyoulisten?Someonesdownthere."Igrumbledthatitwasnothing.

    "AndImtellingyou,someoneisinthehouse.Wouldyougocheck?"

    Irolledoutofbedandstoodthereforamoment,tryingtorousemysehenheadedpastEdwardscloseddoortothetopofthestairs.Ididnotsee,buthadthesensation,thatalighthadgodownstairsandthatsomethingmovedinablurfromoneroomtothe.Anxious,Itookthestepsonebyoneinasortofhypnotice,sthroughmydriftiionsasitbecamedarkeranddarker.Atthebottom,Iturothelivingroomandswitchedonthelights.Theroomappearedungedexceptforafewphotographsonthewallsthatwereslightlyaskew.Wehadhungakindoffamilygallery,picturesofourparents,imagesofTessandmeaschildren,aweddingphoto,andaparadeofportraitsfeaturingEdward.Iheframesbalineandinthesamemomehedeadboltturnatthekitdoor.

    "Hey,whosthere?"Iyelled,ainthenietoseethebacksideofanimpsqueezingthroughtheopeniweenthedoorandthejamb.Outsideinthecold,darknight,threefiguresspedacrossthefrostylawn,andfligonthefloodlights,Icalledforthemtostop,buttheyhadvahekitwasamess,aryhadbeenraidedofedgoods,cerealandsugar,andasmallcoppersau,butnotmuchelse.Abagofflourhadburstwhentheysqueezedthroughthedoor,leavingadustytraildottedwithfootprints.Theoddestsortofbreak-inbyabunchofhungrythieves.Tesscamedownstairsandwasshakenbythedisturb