“They’re not here right now. Nobody’s here but me—”

“—the shock, Kelsey. It’s just too much. But we’ll be fine, huh? Try to have some fun and don’t worry.”

The click came, and Kelsey stood there, staring down at the phone. Tell the boys. Just like that. Your dad had a heart attack and I’ve found your sister’s murderer. Great Kelsey, just great.

She forced herself back to the beach, surprised at how cloudy it was. She hunched her shoulders against the wind, and when she spotted the jeep coming towards her, she ran up and waved it down.

“Where’s the fire?” Skip grinned.

“Not exactly a fire,” she said anxiously. “Eric’s in the hospital.”

“You’re kidding.” Skip’s mouth dropped open. “Is it bad?”

“No, but they’re keeping him a few days.”

“His heart again?”

Kelsey nodded, meeting Skip’s grim expression with one of her own. “I’m on my way to find Justin now. I think Neale’s on East Beach—do you know how I can get ahold of him?”

Skip made a dismissive gesture. “Not to worry. Justin’s over there, too, helping him with something—I’ll call them right now.”

She smiled at him, relief flooding through her. “I didn’t want to have to…tell them…”

“I know.” Skip’s eyes clouded over almost angrily. “It’s a damn shame. How much more can happen?”

If you only knew, Kelsey thought—tell him—tell him now—make him call the sheriff and go to Isaac’s houseboat—“Skip—”

“See you later, huh?” Skip squeezed her arm, leaving her with half-formed words on her lips as he sped away.

Kelsey dragged herself back to Eric’s cottage and stretched out on the couch, staring again at the picture on the mantel. Beth’s smile was so sweet, so touching…so much like Justin’s—the same gentleness, the same shyness—why do the innocent ones always have to suffer…? She threw her arm across her eyes, trying to shut out the image of the deer hanging on Skip’s wall, trying to stay awake…to keep the voice away…

“Don’t struggle…it’ll be easier if you don’t struggle…”

And the roaring came again, like it always did, that growing surge of indistinct sound and a scream, muffled, distant…

“Don’t struggle…”

But she was struggling…great gasps of air from lungs bursting, and that split second, that terrifying instant of realization as strength gave out and water poured in, black and sickening and endless…

“Don’t…” the voice fading as everything faded, as her very life faded…ended…

“I’m trying to hold on, Dad—I’m trying—”

She cried out, starting up off the couch, vaguely aware of the knocking which had called her back to consciousness.

The room was dark and murky; twilight oozing past the windows. She inched toward the door, keeping flat against the wall, trying to peer out onto the porch without being seen. Was that a laugh she had heard just then? Visions of Isaac swept through her mind—the knife—the huge rat watching her as she tried to run—if Isaac was out there now…if he knew she was alone…

The sound came again, and Kelsey saw the tree limb slapping at the window. Inching open the door, she frowned at the swaying trees, the heavy smell of rain.