I was walking past the kitchen when I heard the maids talking in hushed, worried voices. Something about their tone made me stop and listen more carefully.

"Did you hear what happened to the Miller family?" one of them whispered.

"Three more people disappeared last night," another replied. "That makes seven this week."

My blood ran cold. I pushed open the kitchen door and stepped inside, making the maids jump.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. "What ...