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“Sure.” Ravinia started again, launching into a tale that was as outlandish as it was intriguing about her promiscuous mother, Mary, and the woman’s dedicated, and strict but loving, sister Catherine who had taken over the brood of women who inhabited the gated compound called Siren Song. The children were raised away from the world, locked away from modern civilization. Catherine eventually banished Ravinia’s mother to a solitary island because her liaisons with all kinds of men brought danger to her children.
A last, and current, deadly threat had caused Catherine to send Ravinia to find Elizabeth and warn her of the danger.
“That’s why I’m here,” Ravinia finished simply. “To warn you.”
“What danger is it, that I should look out for?” Elizabeth asked cautiously. She didn’t know how much she believed of the tale, but there was no denying strange things were going on in her life.
“Declan Jr., for one.” For the first time Ravinia sounded unsure. “He could be looking for you, if he knows about you yet.”
He said he loved you, but I think he’s done bad things.
“He’s another of my cousins.”
Elizabeth finished her water and set the empty glass in the sink. Her headache was still there, but had receded to a dull ache in the back of her head. A part of her wanted to trust Ravinia, to find an explanation, even a partial explanation, for the horrendously weird happenings that surrounded her, especially the deaths that had occurred. Maybe there was a connection . . . but then again, really? And if she bought into part of the girl’s story, wouldn’t she have to swallow the entire unbelievable tale?
“I honestly don’t know what to say.”
“Have you seen other things? Besides the bridge?” Ravinia asked her.
Elizabeth half-laughed. “Do you watch the news?”
“No. Why?”
“Never mind. I . . . thank you. For warning me—”
“You don’t believe me.” Ravinia cut her off, affronted.
“I see that you believe it, and I’m not saying you’re lying, but I can’t—I have a life here. A suburban life.” Elizabeth spread her arms. “I’m a normal person, and Chloe and I have just been going through some bad times.”
“You’re lying.”
She shook her head, though she felt her pulse pounding a bit, adrenaline flowing through her blood, a new fear darkening her heart. “Let’s leave it at I don’t disbelieve you.”
“Something’s happened,” Ravinia suddenly guessed. “That’s why you’re afraid. What is it? I can help.”
“Nope, nope. I’m fine. Why don’t you leave me . . . Catherine’s number . . . and I’ll call her.”
“It’s really Ophelia’s number. She has a cell,” Ravinia said, her lips turning downward. “There isn’t a phone at the lodge.”
Elizabeth remembered that Ophelia was one of the cousins Ravinia had named. “Fine. I’ll try calling her, later.”
“Do you have paper and pen?”
Elizabeth searched through her junk drawer and discovered both, handing them to Ravinia who scribbled down a number. Then, she added a second number and wrote down her name. Ravinia Rutledge. “My cell,” she said. “In case you need me or want to talk. I’m going to buy some more minutes, so if you call and can’t get through, just try again.” She started to hand the slip of paper to Elizabeth, then pulled it back and added another number. “This is the number of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Department. Ask for Detective Savannah Dunbar. She can verify everything I’ve told you.” Ravinia handed the slip of paper over and said again, “You do need to call me.”
Elizabeth just nodded, too tired to come up with some clever remark about Ravinia not really needing a phone since she could probably “sense” when someone wanted to talk to her, but she kept that to herself.
It felt like she had to finesse the girl out the door and onto the porch. Just as she was about to shut it, Chloe came bouncing out of her room.
“What are you doing up?” Elizabeth asked her sharply.
Chloe ignored her as she waved to Ravinia, then asked, “Is that your dog?”
Elizabeth looked outside as a shadow passed across Ravinia and a gust of wind rattled the leaves in the trees at the edge of the lawn.
Standing in the doorway, one arm wrapped around Elizabeth’s leg, Chloe pointed with her free hand, her index finger aimed at a copse of trees on the far side of the house across the street. “The big one. With the shaggy fur and yellow eyes.”
Ravinia whipped around to see where she was pointing and Elizabeth said, “There’s no dog.”
