Detective O’Hara didn’t laugh. She nodded, her face calm, and she sneaked another look at her nails. Rose plunged in.

“All right, I had a dream. But it wasn’t the usual kind of dream. It was very real, as if it were happening. As if it were . .. some kind of message.”

It was gratifying to see Detective O’Hara pick up a notebook and pencil. “Just tell me the content.”

“Nancy took me with her to some kind of woods. I think she’d been hurt. She had blood, here.” Rose touched her chest at the spot where Nancy had worn the red flower. “I think she’s in that woods. I think … she’s dead.”

“Which woods?”

“I don’t know.”

O’Hara looked up, eyes a little suspicious now. “Nearby?”

“I don’t know at all. Except there were pine trees and lots of pine needles.”

“Any other landmarks?”

She thought back to flying with Nancy. She hadn’t been paying enough attention. “No. Sorry.”

Detective O’Hara put down the pencil and folded her hands in front of her, the red nails like little dots of blood on her arms.

“I know this has been upsetting for all you kids. But we’re working on this twenty-four hours a day. What you can do to help is …” She put up her hand and ticked off the points on her long fingers: “One, stay cool, stay calm, don’t go off the deep end. You’re perfectly safe in Bethboro, and we have extra patrols out at night. Two, once you’re calm, think back. Did you see or hear anything that night? Only facts can help us. Even something you don’t think is important. Three, if you’re upset, get help. Speak to your parents, speak to your school counselor. Don’t bottle it up inside.” She smiled benignly.

Rose realized they had been dismissed. Obviously O’Hara thought Rose was bottling things up and ready to pop a cork. The way words were emphasized — “only facts” — told them what O’Hara thought about a dream.

“Come on, Grace.” Rose got up and headed for the door. But Grace kept sitting.

“I thought the police used information from people who have psychic powers,” she said, her cheeks growing red. “I’ve seen it on television; it’s taken seriously. Rose isn’t doing this for a joke. She’s not like that.”

Detective O’Hara leaned back and sighed.

“I appreciate your coming in,” she said in that kind of soft voice people use when they think you’re nuts but don’t want to hurt your feelings. She looked up at Rose. “Tell me, have you done this kind of thing before? Received psychic messages?”