Mommy! The shrieking was laced with tears now, the screams sharp and punctuated. And then there were little footfalls as she came running out of her room.

Rachel met her in the hallway. There were tears in her eyes and she held her hands out in front of her as if she were afraid to touch anything.

What is it? Rachel asked. Are you hurt? Are you okay?

Paige nodded, but kept looking at her hands as little tears rolled down her cheeks. Something in my room, she said through a series of whines. I didnt mean to touch it, but I was cleaning up and wanted to see and…

Peter came up behind them and huddled around as well. What is it?

Daddy… Paige said, hugging him.

Rachel started for her daughters bedroom with the same kind of gait in which shed approach a mysterious room during a case. The door was open and as she stepped inside, the mother instincts that had seen far too many freak-outs over small things was fully expecting there to be a spider on the floor or maybe even a bee buzzing around.

But she saw what had her daughter in tears right away. It was over by the window, just a few feet away from Paiges little pink toy chest. Her heart went cold as she walked over to it, and colder still when she knelt down by it.

There was a dead squirrel on Paiges floor. Its neck was broken, the head turned nearly all the way around. It had also been gutted, cut from neck to crotch with its innards hanging out. It was recent violence, the blood fresh and the guts still wet and glistening.

A small scrap of paper had been crammed in where the entrails should have been. Without even thinking about it, Rachel plucked the paper out and unfolded it. It appeared to be a sticky note, all crumpled up to fit inside the small space

Rachel? Peter called out from the hallway. What is it?

She didnt answer. She straightened out the paper and found a note inside. It was written in very tiny script and the paper had become softened by the blood and fluids. She started to tremble, already quite certain what she was going to find but not sure how it was possible. The note read:

Tell your secret, or I will. Take a lesson from Mr. Squirrel and spill your guts.

Your Friend,

Alex Lynch

She dropped the note to the floor and looked at the squirrel. There were far too many questions, chief among them being how the hell Alex Lynch had gotten into her daughters room. But those questions would have to wait. Even now, she heard Peters footsteps coming toward the room.