I look between the trees, searching for Jane or Chris and trying to figure out what the hell is going on. But Amy steps forward with her hands held out and says, “It’s not a game.”

She looks behind us, at the fake grave we dug up and refilled, and says, “You figured it out.”

“There’s nothing there,” I say.

“No. But it’s still important.”

Amy walks past us and stares at the ground, then picks up the stone with her brother’s initials.

We were here less than twenty-four hours ago, but it feels so different this time. Yesterday Amy looked terrified; today it feels like she’s the one in control.

“How did you know we were here?” I ask.

Amy passes the stone between her hands, then finally says, “I heard the car beep.”

Zak looks uncomfortable, and she says, “Don’t worry. She’s not here. I knew you’d come back, Tom. I saw the moment you figured it out, and, when I saw Nia with the spade this morning…”

The girls swap looks, then Amy says, “I’m so sorry for what she did to Aaron. We never wanted that to happen.”

“Really?” Nia says. “Because your dad knew exactly where he was going, and you didn’t put up much of a fight.” I want to defend Amy, because my sister doesn’t know what she’s been through. She doesn’t realize that some people’s fight mode broke years ago. But I flash back to Chris and his daughter whispering as they led us here. If they weren’t talking about betraying us, what were they discussing?

Amy crouches next to the dirt we’ve just packed tight, rests the stone to one side, then reaches for our spade.

“What’s happening?” Zak mumbles, and Nia and I shake our heads.

We thought we’d come here and find the proof that could finally save Logan and Amy. But now she’s the one digging.

I step forward and ask what she’s doing, but Amy doesn’t answer.

“Can I help?”

“Yes. But not yet.” We watch as Amy digs and then kicks at the dirt.

When she finally sits back and slows her breathing, her hands are muddy, and her face looks washed out.

“What are you doing?” Nia says. “Your mum will go mental when she sees this. She’ll come for Aaron again.”

“No,” Amy says. “She’ll come for Tom. And we’ll be ready.”

89

Back on the main road, Chris is in his car, and Amy walks over and sits in the passenger seat. They don’t turn to each other. They both look at the three of us.

Zak whispers, “This is proper creepy.”

And Nia says, “What if it’s a trap?”

They’re trying their best not to move their lips because Chris and Amy are watching us as they pull away.