“What do you mean, what do I know?”

“About Amber. What has she shared with you about our family?”

Rosie shook her head in disbelief that this was what the big deal was all about. “Nothing.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“You know what?” Rosie threw her hands up in exasperation and annoyance. “I don’t know anything and I certainly do not care. Do you want to know what I care about? Amy. My sister. And that’s yet another thing that I do not know!” She lowered her voice a little. “I don’t know where she is, and I don’t know anything about you or your daughter except that you’re both weird.” She raised her eyebrows and looked at Lorraine straight in her eerie green eyes. “That enough explanation for you?”

Lorraine looked at Rosie like she’d never seen her before. “Don’t be so rude, little bitch,” she warned viciously. “I’m not buying it.”

“Lorraine,” Shane finally spoke up and took a step towards them. “I don’t think she actually knows about us.”

Lorraine shot him a glare.

Shane seemed unaffected. “All we’re doing here is making her more suspicious. Come on, let’s just go.” He walked over to the chair she was tensely sitting in. “Amber didn’t say anything. I told you she was telling the truth.” Lorraine’s stubborn eyes met Shane’s pleading ones. “I can tell she didn’t.”

“We still have to do something about her.”

“We already did, so how about we just leave her alone?” Shane’s voice sounded threatening and serious. Lorraine had noticed it too and she wasn’t looking too pleased about it. But then he cleared his throat and took a deep breath and a huge step back. “Fine.” His voice sounded pained. “Carry on.”

“I’m glad you have come to a better…realisation.” Her voice sounded cruel and mocking. She turned her attention back to Rosie. “So, child, what do you propose I do with you?”

“With me?” Rosie asked, horrified. “You’re going to kill me?”

“No!” Shane said quickly. He avoided looking at Lorraine; instead he kept his brown-eyed gaze on her. “I suggest that you and Amber shouldn’t be friends anymore. You should forget all of this and move on with your life.

“What about Amy?”

Shane’s eyes softened. “I’m sorry about your sister. I really am, Rosie, but she’s gone. We had nothing to do with it and there’s nothing we can do.”

She gulped and nodded. “I promise I won’t speak of any of this again and I won’t tell anyone. I know nothing. Everything is fine.” Rosie knew it was a lie, but if she said anything else there was no doubt she’d die. So she just went along with it and hoped for the best. “This never happened.”

“Very good,” Lorraine praised. “But there’s one last thing; I need to test something. Amber seems to be letting me down a lot lately.” She sighed loudly and uncrossed her legs. “What happened yesterday? Oh, and remember Rosie, if you lie about anything, I will find out.”

She nodded and said, “Yesterday was a great day. I met you and you were really nice, but I had to go home because I felt sick. Shane took me home, he was really nice too. Then I went to sleep. I had a good night’s sleep.” Rosie said the words she knew she had to say. The words that were imprinted in her head in case anyone asked any questions. It had been what she told the police. And it was the truth, right?

Lorraine smiled with sick satisfaction. “That’s correct. Good job, dear,” she said. Her snake-like, beady gaze turned on Shane. Rosie thought she even saw him flinch. “Come on.” Lorraine’s voice was cold and vicious. “Let’s go. I’m afraid I need to have a talk with our Amber.”

Shane nodded, but he didn’t follow as Lorraine stormed out of the house.

When Lorraine was safely out of earshot, Rosie hissed, “What the hell is going on?”

He looked at her with an expression as hard as steel. “Nothing for you to know. Stay out of it, Rosie, before you get seriously hurt.” When she shied away from his harsh tone, his eyes turned suddenly kind and gentle. “Knowing anything else about us wouldn’t be safe. You’re teetering off the edge of knowing how much danger you’re really in now. Move backwards, Rosie, and don’t look forward. For your own safety.”

“But what about Amy?”

He sighed and touched her arm lightly. It was enough to send warm shivers up Rosie’s spine. He met her eyes and snapped his arm away as if she’d burnt him. His eyes refused to meet hers as he said, “Your sister has nothing to do with any of this.”

She forced him to look her in the eyes again. “Why don’t you trust me?”

Shane chuckled, which seemed odd in the tense atmosphere. “I do. For what reason, I don’t know. But I do.” He took a step closer to her. So close that Rosie could feel his hot breath on her face. His voice dropped to a low whisper, “I see why Amber does too now. But, Rosie, understand that what she said to you earlier, she didn’t mean. She said it to keep you away, alive and safe.” He brushed away a strand of chestnut hair that had made its way over her eye. “I want that too.”

He hastily stepped away and practically ran out the front door.

Rosie was left with her heartbeat thudding too fast in her chest as she touched her hair where Shane’s hand had brushed it. Her hand still tingled from the sensation of his touch.