Chapter  7


   Climbing the last step, Howard Kirkwood turned down the hall toward
Perry's room.  Approaching the second door on the left, he noticed the
sliver of light under the door. Carefully he twisted the doorknob and
opened the door quietly.  He stood looking in at his son for several
minutes, then let his hand slide down over the light switch. Then there
was the low scraping sound of a key turning in the lock, followed by
quiet footsteps retreating down the hall.