"Cut the lights!" he wheezed, the distant, hollow sound of his words almost
buried under the slamming crunch of the door.

  Dumbfounded, Nora just stared at him.  His head slumped back; his chest rose
and fell, then rose again, struggling to suck in air.  He flailed out at the
knobs but caught the dangling ring to the ignition key instead.  The chain and
gold disk with its embossed eagle snapped free and fell to the carpet.

  "Christ, Nora!  The lights.  Cut 'em!"

  Her hand shot to the dash, punching them into blackness.  She felt his body
shake beside her.  Her spine tightened.  "Jack!"she wailed.  "What is it?"