“We told her not to go, but she’s so stubborn,” hissed Ruby.
“She’s her father’s child,” Richard agreed.
“So then she knows,” said the voice Nora couldn’t place.
Nora’s heart picked up its pace until it was at a full-blown gallop. They were clearly talking about her. But why? She crawled up a step, carefully, desperate to keep the wood beneath her knees quiet.
“She only knows what we’ve told her,” Ruby said.
“We need to keep it that way,” the mystery voice replied.
Nora pulled herself up another step. She needed to see who the voice belonged to.
“Why are you doing this?” said Richard.
“Richard, please,” whispered Ruby. Then: “Tell us what you need.”
“I need Charlie taken care of,” said the third voice.
Nora’s palms were suddenly Slip ’N Slides as they reached for another stair to slink up. She’d hauled one shaking leg to the next step, when it happened. The stair groaned beneath her weight, the sound catapulting into the kitchen, where the clandestine meeting was taking place. The voices all hushed in unison. Nora slid down to her bum as the back door opened and shut above her, nonchalant kitchen sounds—dishes clanging and water running—taking the place of conversation. Nora shook off the defeat and forced herself the rest of the way up the stairs. They’d heard her coming; not finishing the climb would only raise suspicions.
In the kitchen she found Ruby filling the kettle at the sink, Richard rummaging through the fridge. They both stopped their busywork as she entered, feigned looks of surprise on their faces.
“Morning, dear,” Ruby greeted. “You’re up early. Can I get you a tea? Coffee?”
“I’m thinking eggs for breakfast,” Richard chimed in from the fridge. “How do you like yours?”
Nora chanced a look out of the window over the sink, just above Ruby’s bent head. She could see the shape of someone retreating from the house, moving swiftly to the dirt path beyond. Short, salt-and-pepper hair over a neutral outfit.
“Actually,” said Nora, “I don’t have much of an appetite. I, uh, forgot to do something downstairs,” she added by way of excusing herself before thundering back down the same wooden staircase that had betrayed her.
She practically leapt on Charlie’s sleeping form as soon as she was back in their room, but all her prodding and jostling wasn’t potent enough to rouse her brother. Nora looked over at Jessica, who was currently perched on the bed frame.
“Little help?” Nora said.
The bird fluttered down and nudged Charlie’s head with her own. When that didn’t work, Jessica opted instead to bite his nose. Charlie swatted her beak away and rolled over.
“Infuriating,” muttered Nora. She shook her head and leaned in close to her sleeping brother. “I’m about to go through your Internet search history,” she threatened in his ear.
Charlie bolted up. “I’m awake. I’m awake!” He blinked the last of his sleep away and focused his eyes on Nora. “Okay, that was low. This’d better be good, Nor.”
“It definitely isn’t good, that’s just it,” said Nora. “Shove over, will you?”
Charlie shuffled towards the wall, and Nora perched beside him.
“I just overheard Ruby and Richard talking to someone about us. It was all very hush-hush and they did not sound happy.”
“You woke me up because someone’s not happy with me? Nor, if you keep that up, I’ll never sleep again.”
“Charlie…it was Patty.”
“What?”
“I saw her walking away from the house. She said…she said she wanted you taken care of.”
“That would be really nice in a different context,” said Charlie. “But she’s probably not talking about a spa day, huh?”
Nora shook her head.
