For a few moments Mike is silent. “Why send you to the tree? Why not just tell you in the email?”

“I think they wanted to show me they know about my life. You’d have to know us pretty well to remember that tree was my hiding place.”

“Was there anything else in the tree?”

Grant bites at his lip. He doesn’t think he should mention the money. He doesn’t want the money, but he doesn’t want to give it up.

Mike says, “You’re not telling me something.”

“There was money. A thousand dollars in cash. I didn’t tell Peter this part. He’s looking at my laptop to see if he can trace the email. Don’t be mad. I asked him not to tell you.”

Mike blinks. “What…? Why would someone be giving you a thousand dollars?”

“To prove that they’re serious.”

“How long ago did this happen?”

Grant swallows. “The morning Danielle was found. I mean, even as it was happening. I was by the tree when the police sirens started.”

Mike drags a hand across his unshaven chin. “We have to tell your parents.”

“What if they really have lied to me?”

“It’s easy for some anonymous person to be accusing them of lying.”

“But why would they? What reason would the Sender—that’s what I call this guy—have?” Grant says.

“Your parents may know that.”

“Which is why we can’t say anything.”

“I am not comfortable keeping this from Iris and Kyle,” Mike says. “I can’t.”

“Please. I know Peter will be able to find out something and then we can tell them together.”

“Peter says he can track the email?”

“He might be able to find their internet provider and then their address. We have to see.”

“All right. So, what, you want to wait and talk to your parents about this after Peter finds out more information?”

“They could deny this. They could tell me anything and I don’t know anything, so I don’t know if it’s truth or lie.”

“Your mom and dad are not liars. You know this.”

“But the Sender gave me a thousand dollars to prove their point; it must mean something.” He doesn’t mention the bracelet. Or what the Sender said about Dad having done something bad. It’s all wrapped up together, but he can’t tell Mike that part. He can’t make his father look bad.

Mike is silent for ten long seconds. “I’ll stay quiet until we see what Peter finds. But then we tell your parents right away.”

“I didn’t know what to do.” His sense of relief in having told an adult is palpable. “But I’m trusting you not to say anything.”

“I’m glad you told me,” Mike says. “Do you want some of this food your mama brought me?”