“I searched everywhere.”
“The clearing? The arm was on the bench.”
“There was nothing on the bench. I was thorough, Emile.” He pursed his lips. “The fog made it difficult, but I think if those bodies were there, they no longer are.”
“Ifthey were there?”
Henri winced. “That’s not what I meant. It’s a spooky night and sometimes we see things—”
“I wasn’t imagining it.”
“Okay, okay,” Henri said, and pulled me to him. “If you say they were there, then they were there. Somebody must have moved them. That’s not something an animal would do unless it was planning to eat them. And even then, it would have to leave behind some signs.”
“So, it is a man behind this.” I breathed, nodding to myself. I thought of the rib cage of the man, pried open to expose his chest, where his heart had been. An animal wouldn’t have done that,couldn’thave. Only a man, a sadistic man, could have.
I looked up and found that Henri was avoiding my eyes. I frowned. He wasn’t … hiding something from me, was he? I wondered where all the blood could have gone in so short a time. There had to have been traces ofsomething.But what would he gain by lying about it? To keep me from being so upset? Or did he know something? Was this part of whatever Montoni was hiding?
“What can we do?” I asked carefully.
Henri shrugged helplessly. “Without evidence, I don’t think there’s anything wecando.”
I sighed, shaking my head as I kept a watchful eye on Henri. “Poor Fournier.”
“Do you have any idea who the other man was?”
“He looked like the girl. The one who tried to access your sister’s room.”
“A relation?”
“I believe so.”
Henri frowned, considering this. That was something he hadn’t known, unless he was a really good actor. But then again, maybe he was telling the truth and I was imagining his deception. I wished I could trust him completely.
After a moment, Henri shook his head. “Well, you’re staying with me tonight. There’s no way I’m leaving you alone.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” I smiled up at him with relief.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I looked away. “I know it’s been awkward since we …”
“Kissed,” Henri supplied.
“Yes. Since we kissed. I just … I hope I didn’t ruin anything or—”
“Emile. You didn’t ruin anything. I just don’t trust myself with you. I don’t want to get hurt again. Getting close to someone is really difficult for me. And I know you still have feelings for Bram.”
“Henri, I—”
“No, it’s okay. I want you to figure out who you want. I don’t want to force you to choose. I told you from the beginning that I was going to win you over, and that means allowing you to make the decision.”
I watched him silently for a moment. He really wasn’t what I’d expected. I wanted to assuage his hesitations right then, but I also knew that he was right. I did have to make a decision. And putting it off wasn’t fair. If only I could see Bram in the meantime to help sort out my heart.
“Come on,” Henri nodded toward the door. “We can sleep in your room.”
I smiled and nodded. We walked to my room, and the moment I opened the door, I knew something was wrong. There was something in the air, something ominous, like tension.
Slowly, I walked over to my bed and lifted my light.
