Don

"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."

"He said you saved Alison's life. Thank you, Natalie. Thank you so much."

"I'm glad I got there in time."

"Will you tell me what happened? I got the sheriff's version, but he never explained why you were at the Saunders house."

Natalie propped her pillows against the headboard and settled in for a long chat. After all, it wouldn't kill her to keep Viveca company, if only over the phone, while the woman waited to hear if her daughter would survive. She described finding Paige missing and ended with the E.M.S. taking away Alison.

"I don't know if it was chance or destiny that put you there in time to save Alison," Viveca said. "My husband always said the universe was chaotic. I like to believe everything happens for a reason."

"I'm not sure where I stand on that issue. Viveca, why do you think Alison was at the Saunders house?"

"Alison used to fantasize that she was Ariel. I thought she'd grown out of it, but lately she's been talking about Ariel again. She has some books on reincarnation. I believe she thinks she's the reincarnation of Ariel. I've suspected she's been going out at night." This Natalie already knew. "I think she was going to the Saunders house pretending, or maybe actually believing, she's Ariel."

"That makes sense," Natalie said slowly. "Did the sheriff tell you Paige and Jimmy saw her there a few nights ago?"

"No, but I'm not surprised. I should have kept a closer eye on her, but she resents the amount of supervision she does have. Mrs. Krebbs during the day, me at night. But I can't stay up all night. I have a job. I should have hired a nurse. That's what your father told me to do. I was considering it when suddenly she improved during the time I was seeing Eugene."

Natalie couldn't resist plunging on. "Viveca, why did you stop dating Eugene?"

Natalie could feel the woman's hesitation. "Because of Alison."

"But you said she improved during your time with him."

"She did, but… well, there were complications. She seemed to like Eugene too much." Viveca sounded pained. Had Alison actually tried to seduce Eugene? Natalie wondered. "I think Alison has only been slipping out at night for a couple of weeks," Viveca rushed on. "She's been so much worse lately."

"My father thinks she needed medication, but Warren couldn't prescribe. Why did you let him treat Alison?"

"She refused to see anyone else after she met him."

"She had,a crush on him, didn't she?"

Viveca sighed. "I suppose so. But it was only slight, a little girl thing. Nothing serious."

I wouldn't be too sure about that, Natalie thought. "Whether it was serious or not, you don't have to worry about it anymore. Now that Warren is gone, Alison will be seeing someone else, and I think it should be a psychiatrist this time."

"It will be. If she makes it."

Natalie had never been one to spout false optimism, but Viveca sounded desolate. "Alison is young and physically healthy. Those things are certainly in her favor."

"Yes, she's in very good health," Viveca said hopefully. "Flu and a few colds. That's all she's ever had. Never even measles."