Scotty spoke in a whisper. "What makes dogs bark at night?"
"Maybe a fox," Rick replied.
"Or a ghost?"
Rick sat bolt upright. "Maybe!"
Scotty swung to a sitting position on the side of his bed. "I've been listening to you twisting and turning for an hour. If you're going to keep me awake, it might as well be useful. What say we go look?"
Rick looked at the luminous dial of his watch. It was past midnight. "No chases ending in quarries?"
Scotty's chuckle was low. "No chases. Listen a minute!"
Rick held his breath, and heard what Scotty's keen ears had detected. There was the sound of a car somewhere far away. He couldn't tell the direction, but he was sure it was not the road from town because the bedroom windows opened on the town side of the farmhouse.
The night was clear and still, and sounds would carry great distances. The car might even be on the main highway, about five miles away.
"Let's get going," Rick said softly. He fumbled for his clothes on the chair at the foot of his bed and dressed quietly. Scotty was doing the same on his own side of the room.