When they arrived, they went straight to a conference room. It had a long table, the kind Izabel had seen in old FedEx commercials with people sitting around it, smiling at Xeroxed pie charts.

“I’m sorry to show up like this,” Izabel said when Lucy came in.

“It’s okay,” Lucy said. “This is important.” She looked around and waved at the children. “Hello, everyone.”

They all sat down at the table. Izabel smiled at Jana and Cami. It felt good to finally have her family together again.

Lucy sat next to Cami. She asked her, “Can I hold your hand, little one?”

And Cami nodded.

“Do you know how to take deep, slow breaths?”

“Like your elevator,” Izabel said.

Cami pulled her hand back again and showed Lucy the elevator.

“That’s perfect,” Lucy said. “Do you think you can do it with only one hand so that we can keep holding hands? Your hand is just so cute and soft.”

“My mom says that, too.”

“And she would know, wouldn’t she?”

“She grew me in her belly.”

“She sure did.”

Cami gave her hand back to Lucy and then went back to focusing on her elevator.

Lucy closed her eyes. No one said anything. Then Cami stopped moving her elevator.

“Hello,” Lucy said.

“Hello,” Cami said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to help more.”

“What’s your name?”

“I have been called Elm.”

“Like the tree?” Lucy said.

“Yes.”

Izabel cut in. “You’re Cami’s tree friend?”

“Yes.”

“Christ,” Paz said under her breath in a laugh.

“In that group of trees north of town?” Izabel asked.

“Yes.”

Kaito said, “You’re a kodama.”

“I have been called that, too,” Elm said.

“How are you inside Cami?” Izabel asked.

“One night, I woke in her, but I am also where I always am.”

“Can you leave her?” Kaito said.

“Yes.”

“No!” Jana said.

“I didn’t mean now,” Kaito said.

“We need your help,” Izabel said.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to help more,” Elm said again.

“We are setting up a trap for the killer tonight,” Izabel said. “It would help if you can tell us what direction he’s coming from, and when he’s close to the house. Our old house. Anything else, Paz?”

“I’m not participating in this.”

“I can help,” Elm said.

“Thank you,” Izabel said.

“But please don’t mention Cami’s mother,” Kaito said. “Cami’s only ever been annoyed when you talk about the killer. But when you mention how close he is to her mother, she becomes upset, uncontrollable.”

“It felt necessary to warn her.”

“I understand that. And thank you. But tonight it won’t be necessary. We understand that Izabel will be in danger. We are taking precautions. Do you understand?”

“I did not mean to upset Cami.”

“It’s okay.”

“I care for her.”

“She likes you, too,” Izabel said.

“I can help.”