“Why not? You can’t possibly want to stay here.”
“S-she’ll be m-mad.”
“Who, Dolores?”
The girl nodded.
“You let me worry about Dolores. We can leave right now. I can take you to a safe, warm place.”
Pine reached out a hand but the girl shrank back. “N-no. Th-the d-dog. It’ll b-bite me.”
“What dog?”
The girl pointed upward.
“I’ve been through the whole house. There is no dog.”
“O—outside,” said the girl, her eyes widening.
“I came from the outside. I saw no dog. Do I look like I’ve been attacked by a dog?”
The girl ran her gaze over Pine and for the first time looked more confused than scared.
“Dolores told you there was a dog?”
The girl nodded.
“What’s your name? I’m Atlee.”
“I’m G-Gail.”
“Okay, Gail. I saw no dog. Dolores lied to you.”
Gail sat up straighter and wrapped the blanket around her lower legs.
“But I hear it barking when I’m down here.”
Pine thought about this for a few moments. “Does she let you out of here?”
“Only when she’s here. I do the cleaning and cooking and stuff.”
“I thought you might. But did you ever feed the dog? I mean, I saw no dog bowls or dog toys. And if it’s kept outside, there was no doghouse or a chain.”
“No, I never fed the dog. I’m scared of them.”
“When the dog barks, does it always sound the same?”
Gail shrugged. “I guess. I mean, it was a dog barking. And I heard it like an hour ago.”
“Tell me something, does it always happen at the same time when Dolores isn’t here and you’re down here?”
Gail thought about it. “Maybe, yeah.”
“Right. Well, there’s technology that allows someone to do that. With a recording set on a timer.”
“There’s really no dog?”
“No. Have you ever left the house?”
“Not since I came here. Dolores said I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be safe.”
“Why wouldn’t it be safe?”
Gail said, “I stole some food and other things from a store. And the police are after me.”
“Who told you the police were after you? Dolores?”
“Yes.”
“After you told her you stole the things?”
“Yeah. She asked me a bunch of questions. And I told her about it.”
“How did you come to even be here?”
“I was hitchhiking and Dolores stopped and picked me up.”
“When was this? How long have you been here?”
Gail shrugged again. “I’m not sure. Maybe six months. Maybe longer.”
“Where’s your family?”
“Don’t have any. My mom and dad died. Overdosed.”
“I’m sorry. Didn’t you have any other family who could take you in?”