Chapter 16 Summary

Chapter 16 opens with Alison alone at home waiting for Joan and Brenda to come over. It is night, and her parents have gone to New York, leaving her alone. Alison's mother almost cancelled the trip, being jumpy after Fran and Kipp's disappearance and Neil's death, but went ahead with it when Joan and Brenda offered to spend the night with Alison.

Alison watches "The Wizard of Oz" as she waits for the two to arrive. There is a thunderstorm, and the electricity goes out intermittently. Alison calls Tony but gets no answer. She goes upstairs to take a warm bath to calm her nerves. After bathing for some time, she hears the phone ring and gets out of the bath to answer the phone. She gets the phone on the fifth ring but the person on the other line hangs up. She stands...