Rover sat just inside her door, staring at her coolly. He had the stiff posture of a dog whose name had just been called by his master, who was ready for a command—but his eyes held that same blank, unmoved expression, like he was looking at a little child.

Shivers ran through Amy, making her lip quiver and hands shake. Rover had been unlocking her bedroom door, sometimes opening it just a crack, since they’d gotten back from the science fair. And sometimes, when she was in the den and Katie wasn’t looking, he’d stare at her like this.

But he’d never come into her room.

It felt like a threat.

“Get … get out,” said Amy, trying to sound commanding.

Rover tilted his head to the side, considering her.

“Get out!” she said, pointing to her door. And, without meaning to, she said, “Please, Rover. Please leave.”

Rover was still for a moment … and then slowly stood and walked out of the room. The door closed behind him … but stopped when it was open just a crack.

Amy sat down on her bed and wrapped her arms around herself. She felt more shivers moving through her, a sense of helplessness and frustration she hadn’t felt since …

Since the rest area, when that girl had tried to take her ice-cream money. Since the last time a bully had made her feel small. That’s what Rover was doing—letting her know that she didn’t have any choice in the matter.

No dog behaves like this, she thought. Forget the locking and unlocking of the door, the manipulation of the iPad—it was the dead-eyed stares, the hot spots that disappeared at random, the frightening way he refused to leave Katie’s side.

Rover wasn’t right.

Her parents didn’t see it. They didn’t want to see it. They only saw how Rover was with Katie, which was the opposite of how he was with Amy. He listened to Katie. Played with Katie. Slept at the foot of Katie’s bed like a dog was supposed to.

Besides, Rover wasn’t attacking her. He wasn’t even growling. But the threat was real. She felt his hostility and could sense the message behind it.

You thought I was obeying you. Now it’s time you obeyed me.

Either that meant the family dog had it out for her … or she was losing her mind.

Either way, she couldn’t live like this.

She had to talk to someone.

Dad would blow her off quickly. Katie wouldn’t understand and would be heartbroken. Marguerite would tell her to lay off the sugar and binge-watching.

Mom. She had to start with Mom.

It’s now or never, she thought that afternoon as she watched Mom pull her coat on to walk Stormy. Attempts at walking the two dogs together had silently stopped—Stormy was just too afraid around Rover.