Gail's hands were numb as she followed William. Each step felt like it was happening to someone else, or she was having an out-of-body experience.

They reached the room, and William knocked once before entering. Gail followed with her heart pounding in her chest so hard that she was sure everyone in the building could hear it.

Her father was sitting in a chair, watching the TV. He turned when the door opened, and for those few seconds, Gail forgot how to breathe. He looked even worse than ...