Page 97 of Our Little Secret

“And I can still see Nick?”

“I can’t believe your priorities! Allison has been missing for what? How many days?”

“I don’t know.”

“And you—”

“But—” Marilee’s big eyes were round, pleading.

“Once we straighten a few other things out, we’ll talk about you seeing Nick.”

“You promised,” Marilee charged.

“I haven’t forgotten. Now, who else knows about this—about Allison?” she asked, still squinting; the rain wasn’t letting up and the windshield was immediately awash again.

“Just me and a couple of other friends. Zuri and Katie Chen.”

“And Nick?” Brooke prodded, seeing her daughter in a new light. Gone was the innocent girl and in her place was a scheming, sullen teenager.

How many other things had Marilee lied about? She prayed there was nothing as monumental or catastrophic as this.

When they reached the house Brooke noted that every light shone from the windows, the porch lamp illuminating the arch of the porch, where one of the rocking chairs was moving slowly back and forth, though no one was sitting on it.

Was it swaying because someone had just been rocking?

Was there something on the cushion? A red splotch against the yellow twill? Brooke squinted.

“Weird,” Marilee said, noticing the chair as well.

“Maybe your dad was on the porch waiting for us.” Brooke turned into the drive.

“And then he saw your car and went inside?” Marilee looked directly at her for the first time since getting into the Explorer. “I don’t think so.”

Neither did Brooke.

“Like I said, ‘weird.’” Marilee glanced back to the front of the vehicle. “Oh shit!” she yelled. “Mom! Watch out!”

“What!” Brooke stood on the brakes.

The SUV skidded on the wet pavement.

From the corner of her eye Brooke caught sight of a shadow darting past.

The Explorer jolted to a stop, headlights glowing in the downpour.

Through the watery glass she saw something indistinct—someone? A dark figure?—scurrying around the corner of the garage.

“What the hell was that?” she whispered, her heart clamoring, her pulse jumping as she pounded on the button to open the garage door.

“I don’t know.” Marilee’s voice was weak, her eyes round.

Loudly, the garage door clambered up, the light switching on, illuminating the surrounding area.

No one was visible in the apron of light.

“You saw that, right?” Brooke asked.

“I saw something. Or someone.”