Page 124 of The Saint

She nodded and had never thought about what the police might have told the Callaghans. Amelia had had so much on her mind. “I was trying to help.” She wiped her cheeks. “They gave me your key. I’m sorry.”

Mr. Callaghan came to the door and rested his hand on Mrs. Callaghan’s shoulder. “Can I help you?”

“This is Hailey Dumont’s sister,” Mrs. Callaghan said quietly. “I didn’t get your name.”

“Amelia,” she whispered.

“Would you like to come in, Amelia and…?” Mrs. Callaghan glanced at Camden.

Camden extended his hand and introduced himself.

Amelia nodded. She didn’t know why they were offering hospitality when she’d violated their home. The Callaghans showed them into the living room. Amelia went to the window. “I looked out this window and saw the man chasing me.” The cat threaded herself between Amelia’s legs.

“I don’t think we ever got a good answer on what happened,” Mr. Callaghan explained. “We just knew about Jonathan and Hailey.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Mrs. Callaghan said.

Amelia’s chin dipped, nodding as she managed to say, “Thank you.”

This was the first time someone had said that without Amelia explaining that Hailey wasn’t necessarily dead. It was almost comforting that Hailey’s trusted neighbors were the ones to say it. “They said they watered plants for you.”

Mrs. Callaghan nodded. “They were fantastic neighbors.”

“What did our cat have to do with this?” Mr. Callaghan scooped up the cat and petted her softly .

The corners of Amelia’s mouth pulled down. “Do you want me to tell you what happened?”

They nodded. She left out the part about calling Camden, instead saying she called 911, and explained where she froze, where she hid, and how their cat kept her sane.

“That’s…” Mrs. Callaghan pressed her hand to her chest. “You must have been so scared.”

Mr. Callaghan held the cat toward Amelia. “Do you want to hold her?”

She nodded. Her eyes burned, and fresh tears came again. Amelia cradled the cat to her chest and buried her chin against its silky fur. It purred, and her heart squeezed.

“Why did you stop by?” Mrs. Callaghan asked.

Amelia focused on the cat. “I brought a book with me. They gave it to me, and I left it in your kitchen.” She looked up. “I was hoping I could get it back.”

“Of course, honey,” Mrs. Callaghan said. “I didn’t even notice it.”

“You don’t mind?” Amelia asked.

“Not at all.”

Amelia retraced the steps she’d taken weeks ago and found herself at the little desk in the kitchen. The book was easy enough to find. She set the cat down and selected the tome from the books and magazines. “This is it.”

“That’s not ours,” confirmed Mr. Callaghan.

“So we can take it?” Amelia asked.

They both shrugged.

“Thank you,” Camden offered. He put his hand on her shoulder. “We appreciate your time.”

Amelia turned it over in her hand as Camden guided her out. The old worn fabric cover and faded spine didn’t offer much hope of exciting news. She didn’t know why they’d wanted her to have it. When they got inside the car, she flipped the hardcover open and thumbed through the well-worn pages. Only the first and last sections of pages turned. The middle pages were stuck together.

Amelia flipped to the last page that turned and sucked in a breath. “Camden.” Two small microchips had been hidden in a section of the pages that had been hollowed out. They were kept in place with pieces of clear tape. “What are they?”

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