The living room was bathed in the warm glow of the floor lamp. The television was on, but Simon Riley probably wouldn't have been able to say what it was even about afterward. The news flickered silently across the screen as he lay half-reclined on the sofa, one arm resting on the back, the other casually across his stomach.

Then there was that laughter again. Bright, uncontrolled laughter that echoed from the kitchen, through the hallway, and into the living room. Simon barely raised an eyebrow. For the past twenty minutes. Every ten seconds.

Laughter. A giggle. A stifled squeal. Then silence again. Only for it to start up again two seconds later. He sighed softly. What the hell...

From the kitchen, he heard a loud "Oh my God—" followed by a sound like someone almost slipping off a chair. Simon reached for his mug, took a sip of tea, and waited.

"WHAHAHAHA!" There it was again. He closed his eyes briefly. "Everything alright in there?" "Yes!" he finally exclaimed, without taking his eyes off the television. "Absolutely!" Another laugh."Absolutely!" Another fit of laughter. Simon frowned. That didn't sound "absolutely" at all.