“Think about it, William. Yes, Lily attacked those agents because she thought you were in danger. But when you directed her not to hurt the man in the back seat, she didn’t. You stopped her. You understand what that means, right?”

“You think—”

“We hope. We hope it means if you can stop her, you can stop the others too—”

“Fellow believers!” came a call from across the yard. Quincy was striding across the grass, Rudd following closely behind, frowning. “Mr. Personality here is a little less than forthcoming with details. And I’ve got lots of questions.”

“Tell him, Steven. It’s time.” Blue motioned to Quincy. “He needs to see them too.”

“See what?” Quincy asked. “Damn, William. You look even more pale than usual.”

“After this, Blue, you’re done for the day. Time to take your medicine and rest a bit,” Steven cautioned.

She looked to William. “But—”

“No buts. Rudd is going to take you home. I think he and Mr. Martin need some space anyway. William isn’t going anywhere yet.”

“Where is he going?” Quincy asked. “Because I—”

“Before you begin,” Steven said wearily. “I need you, Mr. Martin, to just answer a quick question for me for William to hear. Quincy—that’s actually your middle name, right?”

Quincy put his hands in his pockets. “Yeah … about that…”

“Why don’t you tell William your first name.”

“It’s Rex. But here’s the deal about that—”

“Rex is a family name, am I right?”

“Someone has been deep googling me.”

“Named after your great-grandfather,” Steven continued, looking right at William. “Dr. Rex Martin.”

William blinked. Dr. Rex Martin.

From the letters. The man who helped find his grandmother in the Yucatan.

No. It can’t …

“Even after all this time, I actually think I see some resemblance,” Blue noted.

The edges of Quincy’s mouth turned sheepish as he looked to William. “Apparently I’m picking up where great-grandpa Rex left off.”

It was clear why Lily wanted to immediately return to the fountain after their quick dinner. There was a calming to the sound of the trickling water, spilling from a bowl held aloft by a pillar carved with owls with outstretched wings.

William noticed it now, how often the owl was featured throughout the house. The hilts of the knives he’d found to make himself and Lily quick peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches were emblazed with gold soaring owls. As Steven had led the ever-excited Quincy through the hallway to the elevator, they’d passed a large painting of a resting owl.

As William had helped Blue into Rudd’s car to drive to Steven’s home hidden somewhere in the dense trees, he’d noticed she wore a necklace of a gold owl. As she kissed his cheek, saying she would return first thing in the morning, he’d asked about it.