Again the planchette began to move, seemingly on its own.

B – E – H – I – N – D

We looked at each other and smiled. Two questions in, and just one away from finding the key.

“Behind what?” Cassie blurted out before I had the chance.

L – I – E – S

Damnit. Our backs were both rigid from the tension of anticipation and frustration over this obscured response. If it was talking about mine, this could take a while.

“What lies?” I said, cool sweat beginning to prickle my forehead.

The planchette remained stationary.

“Whose lies?” Cassie said, which made my stomach twist. Of course it’s going to be mine. And I think I know just the one. The planchette didn’t move.

“A lie I told?” Cassie said, which would have been easy for her to ask. Her conscience is clear as an arctic lake.

The planchette didn’t move and she looked at me, waiting. Both of us knowing it was my turn.

I cleared my throat again. “One of my lies?” Bad phrasing, as it suggested many.

The planchette moved and my heart began to thud, the oxygen in the room turned thin. Some things you want to take to your grave. Some things are best left unsaid. Some truths hurt more than they heal. The planchette was sliding toward the upper-left-hand corner of the board. It was clear where it was going, and I was tempted to remove my hands to stop the thing, or to surrender. Why rub it in my face? But I knew I had to see it through.

When the planchette stopped, it stood squarely on YES.

The key is hidden behind my lies.

I’ll give Cassie credit. She kept her humor and tried to make this as easy on me as she could. “Well, hmmm,” she said, her pale lips twisting into an uncertain smile. The briefest dimpling of her chin was the only indication of the dark emotion she was fighting to suppress.

“Hmmmm,” I echoed. I wasn’t ready for this. We needed to be united; this would break us apart.

“Looks like someone wants a confessional. Any idea what lie it’s talking about?”

The room had become too small, Cassie’s gaze too direct. I stood and began pacing. Went back to the door and tried it again.

“It wants to.… He wants to divide us,” I said. “Turn us against each other. That’s what this is all about.”