It was a mistake—she caught on immediately, even though she didn’t say anything. And by the end of dinner, I was more than ready to go to bed just to have an excuse to stop trying to look innocent (while trying not to look like I was trying to look innocent). I didn’t get an answer about Barrett’s whereabouts until later, when she came to say good night.

I’d pulled a more interesting book from the library and was in bed reading when Laura came in with our tea. She smiled apologetically and apologized again for being snippy with me that morning—that was how she described it, being snippy.

She sat down and handed me my cup, and I drank some.

“Maybe you’ll sleep better tonight,” she said.

I took another few sips.

I’d been replaying my conversations with Laura in my head all day . . .

And I couldn’t remember telling her that I hadn’t slept well.

Why would she think that? Why would she even suspect it?

“I hope so,” I said, because one didn’t not answer Laura.

She gave me a smile and then slowly stood. “See you in the morning? Sleep in. No reason to risk another headache.”

I nodded.

She glanced down. “Finish your tea. It’ll help you relax.”

I AWOKE WITH a jerk, vaguely aware of being coated in a light layer of sweat.

What had woken me?

I pushed my blanket off and stood up, but as I got to my feet, a rush of dizziness forced me back down. I took a few deep breaths and rubbed my eyes to clear the blur, then tried again.

My feet were still unsteady beneath me as I walked to the door, but by the time I reached the bathroom, I felt better. I gulped a few handfuls of water and used a washcloth to wipe down my face, neck, and arms. Now that I was out of bed, I was getting chilly. I draped the washcloth over the faucet and started back for my room.

As I was stepping out of the bathroom, I saw a figure standing in the middle of the room.

“Agatha?” I asked.

She was so perfectly still that even if I hadn’t been in a state of dizzy confusion, it would have been unnerving. But now I found it downright creepy.

She stepped toward me, and I reared back. But her hand caught my wrist, and then she started walking, pulling me behind her.

What was I going to do, fight her? She seemed to know exactly where she was headed.

I didn’t even have time to put on my shoes. We hurried down the hall, and then down to the first floor.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

Out the back door. Past the parking area.

Toward the garden.