Fear

There's a knocking above the refrigerator in the kitchen.

Yes, a knocking.

It's soft and fast like a woodpecker pecking perched atop the fridge. "frank, maybe it comes from the outside. You should check."

Are you fucking kidding me? Last time someone pulled a stunt like that, he was forever haunted by some immortal poltergeist crow on the pallid bust of Pallas just above his chamber door.

So, no. Forget that. I'm just--oh, it was a woodpecker, but outside.