It wasn’t much, but maybe she could use it against him somehow.

Amy excused herself and headed up to bed. After brushing her teeth, she went to her room and locked the door before climbing under her covers.

She was reaching for the switch on her lamp when she saw what was waiting on her bedside table.

A brownie from the pan, its one edge gently indented. As though something had clutched it in its mouth … and brought it up here for her.

Chapter 14: Roadkill

Amy loved science and studying, but like any kid her age, she found school annoying. Now, for the first time in ages, she was scared to leave. School, at least, was safe. She was still tired from staying up all night. She hated the idea that she’d fed a dog, even a sinister, abnormal dog, chocolate to make it sick … and even that hadn’t worked.

Even worse, now it seemed as though Rover knew exactly what Amy had been up to. Her worries about what he’d do next swarmed in Amy’s mind like a cloud of gnats.

When her mom came to pick her up after school, she tried to pretend everything was all right … and for a short time, she even believed it. She stuck her head out the window of the car and soaked up the warm breeze. A rare, refreshing surge of happiness ran through her as she saw the sun twinkle between the leaves of the trees overhead.

Mom glanced over at Amy in the passenger seat but said nothing. Amy had expected her to make her usual little comment—I hate when you do that or Watch out for signs and branches—but today she just smiled and said, “We’re in a good mood.”

Amy smiled back at Mom and wondered if she’d been tough to be around lately—miserable and scared, freaked out every time Rover walked into the room. It must have been hard on both her parents, though they could never imagine how Amy was feeling.

The drive was so nice that she dreaded getting home, and when the house came into view she swallowed over a dry mouth. Mom must have picked up on this, because when they stopped in the driveway, she turned to Amy and said, “Why don’t you take Stormy to the park? A nice long walk, just the two of you.”

“I have homework,” said Amy, more out of surprise at the offer than wanting to hit the books.

“Oh, whatever, do your homework after,” said Mom. Amy could tell this took effort—Dad was the cavalier one, but Mom was usually the enforcer. “Take an hour. You’ve earned it. Just be careful.”

“Thanks,” said Amy. She side-hugged her mom, then ran inside.