Our days have fallen into a pattern. Meg and I leave early for rehearsal, then return to the house. Erik and Remy requested that we travel together.
We agreed, since they asked the same of the Earls. Nothing new has happened. When I get home, I take the Notes out into the yard to play.
They remind me of Remy and Erik.
Bass assesses everything. Treble investigates and initiates, and Bass follows, until he decides Treble is being dumb. Then he lies down and ignores him.
Erik was so jealous when he realized I renamed the dogs. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it himself. It was a rare moment to see him discomfited.
I’m strolling behind the dogs along the far side of the pool when Bass freezes and Treble leans forward to investigate something.
Bass growls. Treble whines.
“Notes, come,” I call, stopping short.
There’s something near the hedge by the wall. Flies hover above it.
Bass returns immediately. Treble lingers.
“Treble,” I call again. My voice has a tremor now. I hook my hand into Bass’s collar, probably unnecessary.
Treble comes back, turning once to look at the misshapen thing on the ground.
I grab his collar and hunch slightly as I back toward the house, my eyes darting around the yard. Once inside, I shut the patio door and call out for Meg.
I hear music. She must be dancing.
I text Remy.
There is something dead in the backyard.
A message comes in from Coulson.
I’m sending someone over. Colt, my brother. Looks like a surfer. Where is it?
I step back to the patio and take a photo using the zoom, then send it. You can’t tell what it is. Just a small lump near the hedge.
Remy texts that he’s on his way.
I tell him I’ll stay with Meg. I’m not scared so much as unsettled. I don’t want to touch something dead. We live next to a park. It’s probably an owl’s leftovers or something.
Chapter seventy
Remy
I go to find Erik. He’s talking to one of the Earls. James? I still can’t tell them apart.
“Erik, let’s go. Tianna found something dead in the backyard.”
Both men look up and start moving toward me. James has his phone out, already typing.
“David’s in auditions,” he says. “He can’t come.”
As we pull out of the parking lot, my phone rings. Coulson.
“My brother Colt just arrived,” he says. “He’s heading straight to the yard.”
“I’m on my way too.”
