I guess you don’t need to run if you’re not being chased. It used to have a wooden gate at the front, but they pulled that down, dug up the trees, and built a wall all the way around. I watched it go up in a day. Now there are spiked railings across the top, and three bright spotlights that come on after dark. It used to look like a nice country house. Now it looks like a prison.

I watch Amy’s mum wave her free hand while she talks into the phone. She looks angry, but, even with my window open, I can’t hear what she’s saying.

There’s a shout from inside, and she marches through the front door. I wait a couple of seconds, then see her through a downstairs window, talking to someone out of view. She isn’t holding the phone anymore. No matter how hard I look, I can’t see anyone else. They are hidden by walls and window frames, but, if I wait, eventually, they’ll appear.

What will Amy think when she knows I can spy on her?

Is it still creepy when you think someone’s in danger?

I should tell her we’re nearly neighbors. And I will. But not yet. If Amy’s parents were the ones who put locks on the doors, they might only show their true colors when they think no one’s watching.

18

“She lives in the big house on the corner,” I tell Zak.

He frowns and says, “Stalker.”

“It’s not stalking. She literally moved into my line of sight.”

“I bet you didn’t look away.”

I shake my head, but he’s right. I spent last night fighting the urge to watch but doing it anyway. I know it’s a weird thing to do, but I wish someone had watched over Mum when she was fighting her battles alone.

I only wanted to catch a glimpse of Amy and know that she’s fine. But all I saw were her parents and her brother, their faces lit by the glow of the TV. Upstairs, the curtains were drawn, a single light giving her away.

Had they already locked her in? If I knocked for her, would they make excuses while she sat helplessly by her window? And what about her brother? Are the locks just for Amy, now?

From what I could tell, he seemed fine sitting between his parents. I couldn’t see his expression, but he didn’t look trapped. And he has no reason to pretend in his own home. When I see Amy across the courtyard, she beams, and I’m either overreacting or she’s a great actress.

Mum says I worry too much, but that’s only because there’s so much to worry about.

“Hey,” Amy says, like she’s been doing this for years.

“Yo,” Zak says, winking when I give him a look.