There were no lights on, but from where he stood, he could see natural light pouring through the windows. The sliding glass door leading from the kitchen to the outside deck overlooking the lake was wide open. Afraid whoever he’d seen running through the trees might be hiding inside, he didn’t call out as he tiptoed in.
Where is Hailey?
As he passed through the kitchen, he opened the knife drawer and very carefully removed the sharpest knife he could find without allowing the knives to clang together and alert anyone to his whereabouts.
His heart thumped against his chest as he stuck his head outside the sliding doors, making sure no one was hiding there. The wide expanse of deck, set high above the bluff, was clear. The stairs were old and wooden, and every fifth or sixth step would creak just the tiniest bit. He took his time making his way to the second floor. At the landing, he stopped to listen.
It was eerily quiet.
All three of the bedroom doors were open, which was weird because no one left their door open, not even when they left the house, especially Hailey.
He walked toward Hailey’s room, afraid of what he might find. His heart thumped wildly within his chest as he reached her door. Her room was empty, the bed unmade. Hailey’s room connected to a shared bathroom. The door was closed. Holding the knife in front of him, the sharp point tipped away from him, he walked that way. Using his left hand, he reached for the doorknob.
The door came open.
Hailey screamed.
He screamed. The knife dropped near his foot and skittered across the floor into a pile of one-hundred-dollar bills.
“What the hell are you doing with that knife?” Hailey wanted to know.
“I can’t find Tank, so I came here to see if he’d come home. The front door was open.” He was near tears, practically hyperventilating. “Mom should have been back a while ago. And I saw a dark figure walking in the deepest part of the trees near the lake.”
“Slow down,” Hailey said, ushering him to the bed, where she pushed down on his shoulders, making him sit on the edge of her mattress. “You really need to stop being so paranoid. Nobody is running around in the woods watching you, okay?”
“Okay,” he said, knowing she was right.
Hailey put a hand on her stomach before doubling over in pain.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know.” She winced. “I’ve been sick all morning.”
“Did you eat something?”
“No. I drank a cup of coffee. That’s all.” She groaned. “I need Pepto Bismol.”
“I saw Mom put the box with all the medications and first aid stuff in the garage when we unpacked.”
Hailey walked weakly across the room, toward the knife.
“What is all this money?” Trevor asked.
“A Christmas gift from Jane. Mom said I could keep it.”
Panic set in again when Trevor thought of his dog. He jumped up and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go find Tank.”
Hailey picked up the knife and shook her head as if he were crazy. “Will you help me find the Pepto Bismol first? I’m dying here.”
“Sure. Come on.”
Trevor followed Hailey down the stairs. Before they reached the kitchen, Hailey said, “Jane!”
Trevor stepped in line behind his sister and followed her gaze. Jane was out on the deck, her hip leaning against the railing. She’d been staring out at the view, overlooking the steep overhang when Hailey spotted her and called her name.
“Hailey, darling. I’ve been waiting for you to come downstairs. Did you get your card?”
“I did. Thank you.”
“I’ve got a card for you, too, Trevor. As soon as you come around.”
Hailey looked at Trevor. “What does that mean?”
“She wants me to like her. And that will never happen.” He looked toward the front entry. “I’m going to go look for Tank.”
“Tank had a little accident, I’m afraid.” Jane’s brow furrowed. “That horrible animal bit me.”
It was then Trevor noticed blood on Jane’s shirt—the shirt she’d borrowed from Hailey.
Trevor’s hands rolled into fists at his sides. He’d never felt so angry in his life. She was a true villain, and he wished he had superpowers so he could make her head explode. “If you hurt my dog, I will—”
Jane turned and walked toward them, her eyes dark and cold and unblinking. “You will what?”
“Did you hurt Tank?” Hailey asked, confusion lining her voice.
“He was aggressive and smelly. You said so yourself.”
“I never meant I didn’t love Tank,” Hailey said. “He’s a good dog.” Wincing, she wrapped an arm around her middle.
“What’s wrong?” Jane asked.
“I don’t feel good. I think it was the coffee.”
“You drank the coffee from this morning?”
Hailey nodded. “I couldn’t finish it. Why?”
Jane rushed through the sliding door toward Hailey, stopping short when she saw the knife in Hailey’s grasp. “What’s the knife for? Here,” Jane said, reaching for it. “Give it to me.”
“Don’t give it to her, Hailey. She put something in that coffee.” Trevor glanced at Jane to see if her expression told him he was right. “That’s why you’re sick,” he told his sister, all the while keeping an eye on Jane.
Jane’s smile was tight and forced. “You have an incredible imagination.”
“Why are you here?” Trevor asked. “Mom said you left.”
Jane raised her hands at her sides in a dramatic fashion. “I guess she was wrong.”
Trevor grabbed the knife from Hailey before she knew what he was up to and held it in front of him, the sharp tip pointed at Jane. “Call the police,” he told Hailey.
“I’m going to be sick.” She ran to the kitchen, and Trevor could hear retching. When she returned seconds later, she held a bigger knife toward Jane. “Get out of our house. Now!”
Jane laughed. “Aren’t you two just a chip off the old block?”
Trevor had no idea what that meant, but he was more worried than ever. Jane didn’t appear at all troubled by the fact that she had two knives directed at her.
“You might as well put those away. I’m all you have left. If you don’t believe me, go out on the deck and you’ll see what I mean.”
Trevor looked at Hailey.
“Go look,” Hailey said. “I’ll watch her.”
Trevor hurried past Jane and made his way outside. The sky looked grayer than usual. It wasn’t until he stood close to the railing that he saw that the cottage was in flames. And something else . . . someone was on the pontoon, and the fire was growing close to the boat. From here, it looked like Grandpa!
He tried to run past his sister and Jane, but Jane reached out and grabbed hold of him, twisting his arm until he loosened his grip on the knife. She took it from him and then yanked him close so that she could slide her free arm around his waist.
All he could think of was Grandpa. He needed to help him. Tears slid down both sides of his face. “The cottage is on fire.”
“Let him go!” Hailey shouted.