Entropy.

Entropy: en-tro-py (n.)
1. A statistical measure of the disorder in a closed system
2. Lack of order or predictability: gradual decline into disorder

Detective Jane Rizzoli parked her car in the only available parking space for two blocks and sighed heavily as she turned off the engine. She’s been at work for what had felt like a week when in fact, it had been 16 hours. She was already almost 2 hours late for the ‘surprise’ birthday party her mother had organised for her and Frankie had told her about the week prior. She’d made as many excuses as possible to not go to her parents’ home that night and yet, she still found herself parked in the area she’d grown up in.

As she stepped from the car, she cursed her friend and colleague Maura Isles for having had a previous engagement, some social event that she couldn’t get out of, or so she’d said, and since she knew that Maura couldn’t lie for her life, she plodded up the street alone. Four doors down from her parents’ home, she heard someone shouting to ‘get in the house’ and smiled to herself. Given her line of work, Jane wondered if maybe, her mother had a death wish. As a homicide detective, Jane always carried her standard issue firearm with her, so having people jump out of dark rooms at an armed woman suddenly didn’t seem all that smart. Smiling at the thought, Jane walked up the driveway, whistling loudly and chuckling when she heard the faint sound of a woman still barking orders.

Pushing the door open loudly, Jane rolled her eyes into the darkened room. Her parents almost never turned any lights off so the fact that the house was in darkness was cause enough for suspicion.

“Oh damn! They’re not in!” Jane said loudly, the sarcasm in her tone evident. “I should probably go back home.” She stepped into the room and closed the front door, waiting patiently for the guests to jump out, yelling surprise and throwing streamers. Nothing.

“Hello?” she called into the darkness, reaching out for the light switch and flicking it on. The house was totally devoid of people, everything was in its place, and the kitchen was immaculate but empty.