Don

'You didn't see anyone in the room with her?'

Jimmy shook his head. 'Just about a hundred candles.'

More like ten, Natalie thought, but Jimmy was excited. He blinked at the sheriff, clearly expecting more questions, but Nick's attention had turned back to Paige.

'Is that what you saw?'

'I… I didn't go up to the window. I was standing closer to the front door. And I saw something else. Somebody' came out of a room and crossed the hall to where the girl in the white robe was.'

Nick leaned forward. 'What did this person look like?'

'It was dark and I couldn't see real good. There was this thing like a…' She searched for the word. 'I think they call it a poncho. With a hood. I couldn't see the face. I'm sorry,' Paige ended meekly.

Natalie knew the apology was two-pronged. Paige was sorry for not seeing who was wearing the poncho. She was also sorry for sneaking out. She sounded so pitiful Natalie didn't know how Nick could stay angry with her, but he didn't look as if he were softening.

'So you kids have seen someone at the house before, someone burning candles and dancing to loud music, but you never said a word about it,' Nick accused.

'We didn't think you'd believe us,' Jimmy explained. 'It was so weird-the candles and the music and the person in a robe.'

'A girl named Alison Cosgrove is Ariel's descendant,' Natalie said. 'I think she's been dressing up and going to that house at night, pretending to be Ariel.'

Paige's eyes widened. 'You mean that girl we saw is the killer?'

Nick said harshly, 'I don't think so. The person wearing the poncho is the killer. He cut Alison's throat.'

Jimmy's face slackened and Paige cringed. 'Is she dead?' she asked timorously.

'No, but she could have been. So could you. You have no idea of how much danger you were in.' Nick's voice rose. 'If you hadn't run away when you did… If Natalie hadn't come along, I don't know what might have happened!'

Hearing the agitation in his voice, Blaine jumped up and barked. 'I think everyone gets the idea, Sheriff,' Natalie said calmly. 'Paige needs to go home now-'

'I'll decide what my daughter needs,' Nick snapped.

'Okay. What do you think she needs?'

Nick hesitated. 'To go home. Will you take her? I have to get back to the Saunders house.'

'I'll be glad to take her.' Natalie stood and suddenly realized how weak her legs felt.

On the ride home, Paige began to cry quietly. Blaine nudged her and she wrapped her arms around the dog's neck. 'Are you all right?' Natalie asked.

'Yeah, I guess.' She sniffled. 'I've never been so scared.'

'I haven't, either.'

'Really? You don't act like you're scared.'

'Sometimes it takes our bodies a while to register how scared we've been. We look all right, and then we fall apart.'

More sniffles. 'Do you think my dad still loves me?'

'Of course he does! He's angry because you sneaked out and he's frightened when he thinks about what might have happened to you, but he will always love you.'

'Maybe,' Paige said doubtfully. 'Do you think he hates Jimmy?'

'No. He's mad at Jimmy for luring you out, but he doesn't hate him.'

'How do you know?'

How did she know? Lots of parents would turn Jimmy into a villain, bad-mouth the child all over town, forbid him to come within fifty feet of his daughter again. 'I haven't known your father long, but I have a feeling he's a fair person,' she said carefully. 'He will realize Jimmy isn't an adult. He's an impulsive kid who probably learned an important lesson tonight.'

And I hope all that's true, Natalie thought. Otherwise, Paige will be disappointed in her father. And so will I.

'Do you know the girl that got her throat…' Paige shuddered.

'Yes, a little.'

'You said her name is Alison. Is she the crazy girl Mrs. Collins was talking about on the phone today?'

Mrs. Collins, who gossiped incessantly around Paige. Nick must replace that woman. 'Something awful happened to Alison when she was much younger than you and she never recovered. She's what they call unstable.' And you have called crazy, Natalie thought with a stab of guilt. 'She's been missing since last night and everyone has been terribly worried.'

'If I'd known it was her we saw at the Saunders house, I would have told someone,' Paige said earnestly.

'I'm not absolutely sure it was her. I'm just guessing because I know she loves the story of Ariel and she loves rock music. I know you would have told someone about someone being at the house playing music, though, if you hadn't been so scared.'

Paige was silent for a few minutes. Then she said in a tiny voice, 'Natalie, I didn't tell my dad the complete truth.'

Natalie felt a cold tingle in her neck. 'The complete truth about what, honey?'

'About the person in the poncho. The person that cut Alison's throat and maybe killed all those other people.'

Natalie asked urgently, 'What is it that you didn't tell your father?'

'I told Daddy I didn't get a good look at the person's face because of the hood and that was the honest truth. I didn't even tell Jimmy. But the person in the poncho looked right at me and I didn't have a hood on. He saw me, Natalie, and he prob'ly thinks I saw him!' Paige's voice rose to a wail. 'Now he's gonna hunt me down and cut my throat!'

Natalie lay staring at the ceiling. It was one a.m. and she didn't think she could sleep, but at least she could rest. She could try to slow her heartbeat. She could make herself breathe slowly and evenly. She could force the image of a slashed and burning Alison from her mind.

When the phone beside her bed rang, she almost shrieked. Fumbling in the dark, she picked up the receiver before the second ring. 'What?'

'Nat-is that-Natalie?'

'Yes, Viveca. How is Alison?'

'Still in surgery. It doesn't look good. That's what the doctor told me. Can you believe that? How insensitive of him to tell me that right before she goes into surgery.'

'He's not insensitive. He's just trying to be honest with you in case she doesn't make it.'

'I don't like him. I wish Andrew were doing the surgery. I want him here.'

'He got home two hours ago, exhausted after a long surgery,' Natalie said. 'I didn't tell him about Alison. He needs sleep.'

'But I need him. Alison may be dying.'

'If she is, my father's presence can't change anything. Where's Oliver?'

A moment of silence. 'Home.' Viveca's voice trembled. 'He said he couldn't face another dead girl.'

'The cold bastard.'

'Oh!' Viveca sounded startled by Natalie's vehemence. Then she added halfheartedly, 'He's been through a lot.'

'You're going through a lot, too.'

'Yes, this is very hard,' Viveca said softly. 'Natalie, will you talk with me for a while? I just can't sit here staring at the wall any longer or I'll start screaming.'

'Isn't anyone with you?'

'No. I don't have anyone besides Oliver I could ask to sit up half the night with me.'

I can't believe I'm going to ask this, Natalie thought. 'Do you want me to come to the hospital and be with you?'

'That's not necessary. From what the sheriff said, you've had a pretty rough evening yourself.'

'It's one I won't forget.'