Daniel shifted his weight back onto his right heel, keeping his eye on the inner archway that led to the dark kitchen.

“I told you out on the porch,” Thomas said.

“She’s been in bed since eight o’clock.”

A faint scraping sound came from the ceiling right over their heads.

María lifted her chin toward the wooden banister that curved up to the second floor.

The light from the downstairs hall gleamed on the dark-stained treads of the staircase.

A pair of small bare feet came to a stop at the top landing.

Emily stood beside the white spindle railing in pink pajamas.