"Dammit, Murray Gibson"

Fear crawled up Emily's spine, crawling over every nerve. She leaped up from the bed, kicking and thrashing in panic.

She had only seen a live mouse once in her life, in the school garden.

The fat, greasy, shiny-furred thing darted past her feet. That horrifying feeling would stay with her forever.

It felt like something had jumped onto the bed.

"Ah!" Emily shrieked as she tumbled off the bed in her panic.

Though there was carpet, her entire body crashing down elbow-first hurt so much she thought she might be paralyzed.

"Squeak." A furry thing brushed past her feet.

"Help!" Emily cried, struggling from the floor and running to the living room couch.

She threw open all the curtains, letting lamp and moonlight stream in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The living room was brightly lit.

Emily turned on her phone's flashlight and searched every corner thoroughly. It was very tidy and clean, clearly just housecleaned by Donna Stone before leaving.

How could there be rats in this