Page 46 of The House Beyond the Dunes

He steps closer, only a few feet away. “You’re staying at Kyle’s house, aren’t you?”

I stiffen. “Why do you say that?”

“I saw the lights on.” A grin draws up the left side of his thin lips. “You’re the one that killed him.”

My body tenses. “I didn’t kill him. It was an accident.”

His grin bares uneven, yellow teeth as he angles his head toward me. “That’s not how I heard it. Some say you pushed him.”

I’ve walked several blocks away from the beach house. All around me are thick woods. It feels as if I’ve been transported to another place and time. “No, why would I kill him?”

“Because maybe you figured out what kind of a man he really was.” His voice shakes with trepidation, as if saying what he’s said out loud could get him into trouble.

“What do you mean by that?” I demand. “What kind of man was Kyle?”

“You know.” There’s a wariness in his eyes. “You know better than anyone.”

Tires crunch on the road behind me, and I step to the edge of the road as my fingers ball into fists. The man sees the truck and his grin widens.

The truck slows and then stops just a few feet to my left. Tinted windows make it difficult to see inside the cab, but I’m very aware that the driver is looking at me.

As the driver’s-side window lowers, the man approaches the truck. “Hey, I heard you were back.”

“Earl, what’re you doing out?”

I recognize Reece’s voice and relief washes over me. I don’t really know Reece, but he’s the closest I have to familiar right now.

“Just talking with the pretty lady,” Earl says. “She’s trying to get to know Kyle better. I was helping her.”

“You’re drunk, Earl,” Reece growls. “No one needs to hear your drunken craziness.”

“Might be crazy and drunk.” He taps his index finger against the side of his head. “But I know things.”

“We don’t need your trouble,” Reece cautions.

I’m scared of Earl, but I also want to hear what he has to say. Too many ignore the mentally ill, thinking they can’t speak the truth. But without the filters of social propriety, they can be very honest.

“I ain’t caused no trouble,” Earl says. “Ask her.”

“Good,” Reece says. “Go on, then.”

“Don’t know why you want to be up here, girl,” Earl says. “Seems this would be the last place anyone would ever find you.”

“Go,” Reece warns.

Earl moves along the truck, glances at me over the hood, and winks. Without saying another word, he vanishes into the thick, tall grass.

“What are you doing up this way?” Reece doesn’t sound happy.

“Exploring, I thought. I needed to get out of the house and walk.” Basically true. “Devon told me there are woodlands ahead.”

“This is not the place to walk alone. We’ve got a few residents like Earl who don’t like strangers. Up this way you’ve officially left vacation land.”

The sentence dangles and allows me space to fill in several terrible scenarios. “How did you know I was here?”

“I saw you leave the house. You can’t be careful enough. Earl isn’t a harmless drunk. He has a real violent streak, especially when it comes to women.”

My cheeks flush like a scolded child’s. Embarrassment washes away the last of relief. “Why are you so interested in my safety?”

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