“To protect Haven Valley,” she said, “you and the boy must die.”

I DIDN’T ENCOUNTER ANYONE ON THE WAY TO THE clinic. Most people were already inside for the evening, and I walked in the buildings’ shadows, trying to stay out of sight. I had to get back quickly before anyone knew I was missing.

I knew the clinic’s doors would be unlocked but decided using the back door would be safer. I would rather not announce my late arrival. If someone was inside, I would slip back outside. Easy.

Rose had said she asked Dr. Charles to pull what I needed and put them aside for me. I hoped he’d done so. There was a pickup box in the front room. They should be there. Simple.

I reached the back door and eased it open. Made hardly a sound as I eased inside and softly closed the door behind me. I stood for a moment, letting my eyes adjust to the dark hallway, listening for sound. As far as I could tell, I was alone. All I had to do was get to the front, find the medications, and get back out. Then it was a straight shot home. Easy and simple. But I had to be quiet so as not to alert Dr. Charles and his family, who were on the floor above me.

I was four or five strides down the hallway when I heard a voice. Soft and indistinguishable, but there. I pulled up, flattened myself against the wall and strained my ears.

The voice was coming from up ahead, around the corner. A corner I had to cross to get to the pickup box. I considered heading back out the way I’d come.

The voice came again, a woman’s voice, from one of the patient rooms around the corner.

An image of my father flashed through my mind. He’d been the only patient in the clinic yesterday when I’d left. Who would be with him now? Not Dr. Charles. A woman. His wife? Unlikely. Didn’t sound like her.

I had to know, and there was no sign of Bobbie to tell me I shouldn’t know. Besides, she was the one who’d suggested I come.

Creeping with caution, I eased toward the corner and the voice came clearer. A familiar voice.

“I am only doing what has to be done,” the voice said. “Sylous commands it.”

Dread mushroomed in my chest. I knew I should get out before I was discovered, but I also had to know what she was saying to my father. What had Sylous commanded? So I stood as still as a mouse and held my breath.

“You won’t suffer,” the voice said, and in that moment I knew it was Rose. “You won’t feel any pain, and I promise the same will go for the boy.”