“What?”

“He came to the door a while ago and asked to use our phone—look, I don’t have time for your paranoia right now. There’s an emergency on the beach and I’ve gotta get down there.” He brushed past her, and Kelsey’s voice followed him, fearfully.

“What’s happened?”

Neale stopped…turned to face her. “A drowning. We…someone has to go look at the body…”

Kelsey felt suddenly weak. She sank down onto the steps, her head in her hands, as Neale disappeared through the trees. Oh, please…don’t let it be Beth…

It seemed like he was gone forever. Kelsey sat there, too sick at heart to go inside, knowing everyone would be in there, waiting and afraid. Only when she heard Neale running across the yard again could she finally force herself through the door, unable to take the news alone.

They were all there—Eric and Mom, Justin and Skip—all staring with strangely resolved faces.

“It wasn’t her,” Neale said. “It was a boating accident—some girl tangled in the anchor line…but it wasn’t Beth.”

Eric covered his face, his voice choked. “No more. I can’t take any more of this…”

“Dad,” Justin whispered, but Eric looked up, shaking his head.

“No…no more. We can’t go on like this. We have to stop.”

Kelsey stole a look at Justin and looked away again; she couldn’t bear the anguish on his face.

“We will…of course…keep hoping. Always…hoping. But it’s time to get on with our lives, son.” Eric took Justin’s hand. “We have to go on. Beth would want us to,”

Kelsey saw the room blurring around her. She was aware of movement, chairs scraping the floor, feet shuffling, doors opening and closing—but it wasn’t until she felt a hand on her shoulder that she focused in again.

“You’re coming with us, aren’t you?” Skip asked.

Kelsey twisted in her chair and looked up at him. “Skip,” she said slowly, “I think someone was just in my room.”

“A lover!” he grinned. “Good for you, Kelsey, smuggling someone in here right under our noses, you little—”

“Skip, I’m serious.” Kelsey stared at him, her face drawn. “I couldn’t say anything in front of Eric, but—”

“Hey, you’re really serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes I’m serious. I heard something in my room—and when I came out of the shower, there were footprints on the bedroom rug—”

“What’s going on?” Justin came up, leaned on the back of Kelsey’s chair as he bent down to listen. “What about your room?”

Before Kelsey could answer, Skip pulled on Justin’s arm and headed for the door. “Come on—Kelsey thinks someone was just in her room—”

“What?” Justin looked stunned, glancing back at her as Skip pulled him through the door. Kelsey turned around and saw Neale watching her. A second later he, too, followed the others out the door. Kelsey got up to go with them but as she came out into the yard, she heard Justin’s voice, clear and authoritative.

“Kelsey, you stay there. We’ll be back.”