ife against the life of the city. it wasn't a decision she had any right to make. she made it anyway. i'm sorry, coreen.

she wet her lips and drew in as deep a breath as she was capable of. "cor ..." the butt of the rifle hit the floor inches from her nose, the metal plate slamming against the tiles. the noise and the vibration drove the remainder of her carefully hoarded breath out in an almost silent cry of pain. thank god, he had the safety on...

"shut up," norman told her genially.

she didn't really have much choice but to obey as darkness rolled over her once again.

norman looked around his apartment, exceedingly pleased with himself. soon all those people who thought him a nobody, a nothing, would pay. he reached out one hand to stroke the book. the book said so.

10:43. time to start painting the pentagram. it was much more complicated than the form he usually used and he wanted to be sure he got it right.

this was going to be the greatest night of his life.