7危急时刻6

7.AttheCriticalMoment“Feelbetter,honey.Iloveyou,”EricaPratersaid,kissingher11-year-oldniecesflushedcheek.“Iloveyoutoo,HeatherLepagecoughed.WhenthechildhadawakenednotfeelingwellenoughtoaccompanyhersisterStephanie,10,toschool,Ericawantedtostaywithher.ButsheandherhusbandHarveyhadjuststartednewjobs,andneithercouldskip1work.“Illbejustfine,”Heatherhadinsisted,curlingup2onthecouch.Werejustfiveminutesaway,Ericatoldherselfnowasshereluctantlyleftforwork.Onher11:15a.m.break,EricaphonedtoseehowHeatherwasdoing.“Imfine,shesaid.Butmomentsafterhangingup,Heatherheardknockingatthefrontdoor.Whocouldthatbe?Shewondered.Snapping3offtheTV,shecrept4totheblindsandpeeked5out.Noonethere!EricaandHarveyhadtaughtthegirlsnevertoopenthedoortoanyoneatanytime.Totestthem,Harveywouldsometimesknockonthedoorandhide.Iftheya