He hardly said a word that night, but, maybe, I was asking the wrong questions. If he knows I’ve seen his drawings and his pleas, that could change everything. If he really wants help, or if the carvings are some kind of warning, perhaps it would be enough to tell him what I’ve found out.

Amy has barely spoken to me since I left. She knows what I found. Or, if she doesn’t, she knows I went looking. And that shows I don’t completely trust her.

Is she figuring out that she can’t lie to me anymore? Is she disappearing like she did at St. Gregory’s? Or will she turn up in a few days, acting like everything’s normal?

“Amy’s brother goes to the same school as Harrison,” I say.

Zak nods, gives me a funny look, then says, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I want to use your brother as a spy?”

Zak laughs. “He’s six. What could he possibly do?”

“Pass on a message.”

I could post it through the metal mailbox next to their gate, but Amy or her parents might read it first, and then they’d know.

If Harrison can put it in Will’s hand, at least he’d have a day to think. At least whatever decision he makes will be his own.

“What do you want to ask him?” Zak says.

“I just want him to know what I know. I’ve seen the carvings, I’ve read the words, and I know about the locks. He can talk to me.”

“What if it’s all a massive misunderstanding? If you put something in writing, you can’t hide that from Amy.”

“I’ll take the risk.”

“So now you’re saving her brother instead?”

I stare at the sky, remember a life that feels like a half-forgotten nightmare, and say, “I’ll save whoever needs saving.”

59

“Do you recognize this boy?”

Zak’s brother nods. “He’s in sixth grade. I’m in second.” Harrison is the same age as Aaron, but what choice have I got? Besides, it’s only passing a note. It’s nothing that can get him into trouble.

I hand Harrison an envelope and say, “I want you to give him this. Not his teacher or his mum or dad. It has to go to him. Do you understand?”

Zak’s brother nods. “Okay.”

Inside, it says:

Hi, Will. I’ve seen the stick people. What do they mean? If you want to talk, you know where I live. —Tom

If Amy reads it, she won’t be happy. But that’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m sick of not knowing what I’m worried about. That didn’t use to be a problem. I could see what I was scared of because it hid in plain sight. But this is different.