Page 144 of Veil of Silence

“What else can you tell us?”

The boy’s mouth tightened. “Christian was always their favorite.”

“Favorite?” Nora blinked in confusion.

“The man in charge said Christian was important. That he’d been chosen before any of us.”

“Chosen for what?” Nora asked.

“I don’t know.” His gaze dropped to the blanket. “I escaped before I could find out.”

The clock above the door read a quarter past one. Gray light pressed against the hospital window, and someone had swapped the boy’s breakfast tray for a lunch tray.

Nora kept her eyes on the boy. If she looked at Austin, she might fall apart. He sat by the window at the edge of her vision, his hands locked between his knees.

“Do you know anything about the Renshaws?” Prine asked, clearly remembering the notes Austin’s father left behind.

The boy’s fingers tightened around the blanket. “I heard Cross mention them before I escaped. He said something was supposed to happen when they came to Fog Lake.”

Prine leaned forward. “What was supposed to happen?”

“I don’t know. He stopped talking when he realized I could hear him.”

Nineteen days until Homecoming. Nora counted them before she could stop herself. What was so special about that event?

Part of her didn’t want to know.

One question still remained—one she wasn’t sure she wanted answered.

“One more thing.” Nora looked at the boy. “The night I fell down the stairs. Were you behind me?”

He lowered his gaze. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Then what happened?”

He rubbed his thumb along the edge of the blanket. “I kept thinking Cross might be outside—or already inside the house. When I heard you leave your room, I followed you into the hallway.”

Nora remembered the floorboard creaking behind her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I saw you lose your balance. I reached for the back of your shirt to steady you, but I missed. My hand hit your back instead.” His gaze dropped. “I think I made you fall faster.”

Between her shoulder blades.

Exactly where Nora had felt the pressure. Her ribs still ached where the stairs had caught them.

“You told me the fall woke you,” she said.

“I panicked. You were already watching me like you didn’t trust me. I thought if you believed I’d pushed you, you’d call the police.” His eyes filled with shame. “And I knew Cross had a badge.”

Nora absorbed the explanation. He’d lied again—but not because he had wanted her hurt. He had been afraid that telling the truth would place him back in the hands of the people he had escaped.

“You should have told me,” she said.

“I know.”

She believed his regret. Forgiving the lie would still take time, but the fear that he had deliberately tried to hurt her finally loosened its grip.

Dr. Rutherford glanced at the clock. “That’s enough for today.”