But inside that small, pale-blue house, a strange quietness always lingered.
Growing up, the boy was an intelligent, observant child. He was polite, reserved, almost painfully meticulous. He loved puzzles, math, and order. His teachers described him as bright and obedient. His mother, Opal, doted on him; his father, Harold, worked long hours at a factory and expected discipline.
Even as a boy, he sought control, a trait that would grow darker with time.
