we munched on scrambled eggs , sausages , potato cakes , toast , and melon . they probably wo n't even notice that i 'm not there . '' but the strangest thing of all was that my father was standing at the bottom of the staircase , waiting . any time i need help with my car , he is the one i call . they had less than a day to solve this riddle . vincent 's tone was almost too calm . 