f the main corridor and peered around； her mind
stiffened for whatever she might see there。
There was nothing to see。
After a moment's hesitation she rounded the corner and began down the main
corridor。 Each step toward the shadowy stairwell increased her dread and made
her aware that she was leaving her sleeping son behind； alone and unprotected。
The sound of her slippers against the carpet seemed louder and louder in her
ears； twice she looked back over her shoulder to convince herself that someone
wasn't creeping up behind her。
She reached the stairwell and put her hand on the cold newel post at the top
of the railing。 There were nineteen wide steps down to the lobby。 She had
counted them enough times to know。 Nineteen carpeted stair risers； and nary a
Jack crouching on any one of them。 Of course not。 Jack was locked in the pantry
behind a hefty steel bolt and a thick wooden door。
But the lobby was dark and oh so full of shadows。
Her pulse thudded steadily and deeply in her throat。
Ahead and slightly to the left； the brass yaw of the elevator stood mockingly
open； inviting her to step in and take the ride of her life。
（No thank you）
The inside of the car had been draped with pink and white crepe streamers。
Confetti had burst from two tubular party favors。 Lying in the rear left corner
was an empty bottle of champagne。
She sensed movement above her and wheeled to look up the nineteen steps
leading to the dark second…floor landing and saw nothing； yet there was a
disturbing corner…of…the…eye sensation that things
（things）
had leaped back into the deeper darkness of the hallway up there just