Page 2 of The Saint

A long, dark look passed between Hailey and Jonathan, conveying a silent, terrifying message that Amelia didn’t understand. Hailey’s gaze flitted from her husband toward the front door as though she could see through the heavy double doors and into the shadowy night. “If we’re right, we don’t have long—we need help.”

Jonathan nodded. “We’re right. Amelia needs to get someplace safe—”

Amelia’s eyes peeled wide open. “It’s notsafehere?”

“Not anymore,” Hailey whispered. The fear in her face transformed into something Amelia couldn’t describe. It was almost guilt—or sadness. “I’m sorry we dragged you into this.”

“Intowhat?” Exasperation had an iron grip on Amelia’s chest and continued to crank up the tension.

They ignored her. Hailey hurried from the foyer and disappeared into the unlit living room.

“This will sound crazy,” Jonathan said, “but you have to do what she tells you to do.”

Sound crazy?Amelia was watching craziness unfold in front of her. She replayed his words in her head but didn’t ask him to explain. They wouldn’t. That much was clear.

Hailey returned with a permanent marker, adding another layer of what made little sense. She rushed up the stairs and grabbed Amelia’s hand. When her sister touched her, Ameliarealized she’d been clinging to the railing. Hailey pulled her down the stairs. “Go out the back door. Get to your car—”

“Not her car,” Jonathan called from the shadowy office. “And we can’t use her phone either.”

“You’re right.” Hailey paused but didn’t let go of her as she searched the dark foyer for answers. “We have keys to the Callaghans’.”

“Yeah, yeah. Good idea.” Jonathan returned with a book tucked under his arm and what looked like a bank deposit bag the size of a pencil case. He unlocked the zipper with a short, fat key and pulled out two cell phones.

“We check on their cat and water their plants sometimes,” Hailey explained as though any of her words could make sense. “When they visit their grandkids out of state. And they’re always day-tripping.”

“You want me to wake your neighbors up in the middle of the night? And say what?” Amelia’s pulse punched in her neck. She pulled her hand from Hailey, but her sister wouldn’t let go.

“No. Don’t wake them. Just go in and use their phone.” Hailey finally released Amelia’s hand. “They have a landline. Check in the kitchen or living room.”

“Chances are,” Jonathan added as he walked out of view, “they won’t even be home.”

Hailey uncapped the marker with her teeth and scrawled a phone number on the inside of Amelia’s forearm. “Go out the back door. Stay low. Go to the house across the street. The one with ferns on their front porch. Use their back door. Don’t turn on any lights.”

The ink dried on her arm, cool and chemically scented. Her nose wrinkled as she stared at the numbers clearly written on her skin.

Jonathan returned with the book and a key chain. “Leave this on any bookshelf, and use this key to get in their back door.”He indicated a single house key capped with purple plastic. “Jiggle it if it sticks.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Amelia shrank from the key. Everything would change if she followed their directions, if it hadn’t already.

“Call this number.” Hailey capped the marker. “And say—you need to listen, Amelia. You have to repeat these exact words.”

Amelia tore her gaze from the key chain dangling in Jonathan’s hand to Hailey. The desperation painted on her face made Amelia’s stomach turn.

She shook her head. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“We don’t have time.”

“Why?”This has to be a nightmare. If only I could wake up.“If someone’s coming here, we should all leave. Or call the cops.”

Hailey didn’t acknowledge the reasonable options. “Banana. Light bulb. Chicken. Heart.”

“What?”

“I can’t explain. You have to remember this.”

“No, I don’t—”

“Amelia. Listen.” Gone was Amelia’s unflappable sister. Hailey’s sharp expression was unfamiliar and dangerous. “Say it. Repeat it. You need to remember this if you’re going to get us help. Banana. Light bulb. Chicken. Heart.”

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