Rupert said tly, "It''s nothing."

    ...

    By the time Sylvia got home, she waspletely drained. She copsed onto the couch, barely able to move, when Ms. Ward knocked on the door.

    When Sylvia opened up, Ms. Ward walked in holding a steaming pot.

    "Heard youe in, hon. I made you some bread pudding-your favorite, isn''t it?"

    Sylvia eyed Ms. Ward suspiciously. "How do you know that''s my favorite?"

    Ms. Ward froze for a second, then burst outughing. "You told mest time you had a little too much wine. Lucky I remembered!"

    Sylvia didn''t think much of it. She was hungry anyway, rubbing her belly.

    "I''ll grab some bowls."

    A few momentster, they each had a big bowl, eating until they felt warm and cozy all over.

    Sylvia got up and brought out the rest of the wine she had stashed away.

    Ms. Ward looked surprised. "Bread pudding and now more wine? You sure?"

    Sylvia smiled as she poured. "Just a little to help me sleep. Long day. I want to turn in early."

    "One ss, then."

    "Deal."

    Before they knew it, they''d finished off the bottle.

    Sylvia, tipsy and swaying, stumbled into her bedroom and flopped onto her bed. As she nced up, she noticed the nightstand was already crowded with empty bottles.

    Pills didn''t help her sleep anymore-only alcohol could numb her enough.

    She chuckled dryly and closed her eyes.

    She had no idea how much time passed, but in a foggy haze, she sensed someone moving her.

    Half-opening her eyes, she realized she was being dragged into the kitchen.

    In the reflection of the kitchen window, she saw a man behind her a big guy, covered in tattoos, even strange symbols inked near his eyes. He looked dangerous, not someone you''d want to meet in a dark alley.

    Sylvia tried to fight back, but she''d drunk too much-her limbs were useless.

    She struggled, but couldn''t move.

    The man hadn''t noticed she was

    awake. He took her hand and

    twisted the stove''s knob carefully leaving her fingerprints on the switch.

    Then he hauled her back to the couch.

    Sylvia squeezed her eyes shut, watching through narrow slits as the man tipped over the empty wine bottles, scattering them around her on the sofa.

    He ced a folded piece of paper on the coffee table.

    She squinted hard to read the words: "Goodbye Letter."

    A suicide note.

    Sylvia''s heart raced as she realized what he was doing-setting her up.

    She stayed perfectly still, waiting for him to leave.

    When he finally finished staging the scene and left, Sylvia snapped her eyes

    open. Her whole body was starting to feel wrong.

    She struggled to move, but her limbs wouldn''t obey.

    Staring at the empty bottles on the

    floor, she thought of Ms. Ward..

    she made enough noise may

    Ward woulde check

    Bit by bit, she edged to the side of the sofa, then let herself fall, crashing into the bottles.

    She heard a noise at the door.

    It had to be Ms. Ward!

    But as Sylvia looked up, hope in her eyes, it was the tattooed maning back

    in.

    He walked over, sneering. "We never leave until we''re sure. Sorry, darling—you''ll just have to suffer a bit longer."

    He grabbed a throw pillow and pressed it over Sylvia''s face.

    The suffocating pressure crushed what little strength she had left. She was as helpless as a fish on the chopping block.

    A few secondster, she went totally limp.

    But the man didn''t seem interested in killing her that way he just knocked her out, then carefully arranged her on the couch.

    Just as darkness swallowed her, she saw the man suddenly clutch his stomach and copse in agony.

    Someone entered the apartment. Sylvia tried desperately to see who it was, but everything faded to ck.