“In case I did it again, you know. So you wouldn’t be shocked.”

Harper laughed. “Dani, you’ve done that every time we’ve shared a bed. Last night wasn’t the first.”

“Oh, my God! You knew?”

“Of course. I’m a very light sleeper to begin with.”

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know—”

“It’s okay. If it bothered me, I would have said something. Or at the very least, moved away from you.” She turned her head to look at Dani. “I know you’re scared. I know I’m the only one you trust right now. If you need that reassurance, if you need physical contact like that…I’m okay with it.”

“Thank you. You are the only one I trust.”

“I know. It’s okay. I think you’re safe here.”

Dani sighed. “Until I have to leave. You don’t happen to know any good bodyguards, do you?”

“I know this whole situation is…is crazy. The idea that we’re protecting you while you’re here, only to send you off on your own is ludicrous, in my opinion.”

“What would you do differently?”

“I would try to draw him out.”

“Use me as bait, like you said?”

“Yes. But it could be a dangerous game, and I know why Lieutenant Mize, the captain, I know why they won’t hear of it. There are so many things that could go wrong.”

“Then why do you want to do it?”

“Because when you leave here, he’s going to follow you. Provided, of course, that he can find you.”

“Which he’s been able to do so far,” Dani said as she rolled toward her. “Use me as bait how?”

“Not try to hide you, for one thing. He’s getting bolder. He’s obviously showing up, leaving dolls, slashing my tires, throwing baseballs. He’s getting close, but he’s not trying to come inside. Most likely because he knows I’m here.”

“You’re not suggesting I stay somewhere alone, are you?”

“No. But somewhere where he would think you’re alone.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s too late for that. We’ve already tried to hide you. If we reverse course, he’ll know.”

Dani fidgeted with the covers for a second, then sighed. “Harper? Do you think I should just leave now?”

“Why?”

Dani sighed again, this one almost painfully loud. “I have another confession to make.”

“Okay.”

“When I picked you…your eyes, I told you that I knew I could trust you just from looking at your picture.” Dani turned toward her. “When I came here, I had a sense that he might follow me. And I knew if he did, that you would protect me. It was like, I would bring him down here and you would catch him for me.”

“You thought all of that just from looking at my picture?”