Maybe the man driving was lost, Rose thought. She glanced at the window; Dr. Neill was still there, looking down at his desk. Although the car was parked in the street, not the driveway, the man got out and stepped into the yard. He was much shorter than Dr. Neill, but heavier. He had short, sort of frizzy brown hair. At first, Rose felt alarmed, but then he smiled.

He looked so friendly and nice. Rose didn't move. She wasn't scared, but her mother had told her not to talk to strangers. Shade from the tall tree dappled his face, making it hard to see anything but his smile.

“Do you live here?” he asked.

Rose shook her head.

“Are you just visiting?” he asked, just a few feet away now. She could see his eyes now—bright but dead, like green marbles.

She nodded and stayed very still, glancing at the window. Dr. Neill was there, watching the man come closer. Suddenly he was on his feet.

“With your parents?”

The door opened. Dr. Neill started toward her, and something about the look on his face made her know she should run to him. She did, her heart galloping. When she turned around, the man was walking back to his car.

“You have such pretty green eyes,” the man called. “And brown hair. I like your braids.”

“Just a minute,” Dr. Neill said, starting across the yard. “I want to talk to you.”

The man didn't answer. He just kept staring at Rose as he climbed into his car. Slamming the door behind him hard, he began to pull away. The whole time, he just kept watching Rose. Then his car disappeared from sight.

“Who was that?” she asked Dr. Neill.

“Someone we have to be careful of,” he said. “I won't let you outside alone again, okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

He looked down into her eyes. Rose blinked, staring. She didn't know what had just happened, but she knew it made her heart beat too fast. The man had stared. He had smiled, as if he was nice. But his eyes had frightened her, flashing and hollow. They had reminded her of a hungry animal, and she shivered.

Dr. Neill hugged her, and then he led her inside.

Liam sat at his computer, surrounded by early editions of Copeia, trying to shake off the disturbance he felt. He had no question about the visitor they'd just had. Edward had followed Lily last night, and he'd come back this morning to see the place in daylight. If only Liam hadn't let Rose go out by herself. If only he had told her to stay in the backyard, out of sight of the street.

He called Lily right away.

“What did he say? What did he do?” she asked.

“He didn't say much,” Liam said. “He asked if she was visiting with her parents. Then he just stood there, staring at her.”