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.My pa had beaten me, but Ihad never feared a lifetime of torture likethis poor girl.The grin on MacFarley s face exposedseveral missing teeth. They are.We areto be wed on the next full moon, so youcan leave now. Please go get Miss Ronan, Anna saidto me.I didn t have to go far.She was lurking right outside the door.Her completelyunconcerned demeanor made the demon inme growl. Yes, Miss Leighton? she said in analmost-bored tone. Here s the deal, Anna said. Fromnow on, this. She pointed atMacFarley. This man does not set footinside the house.He is not to have accessto Deirdre ever on this property.She isnot to leave this house without me.Noteven with her.no, especially not withher parents. Miss Ronan simply lifted an eyebrow. If I find out he has laid a finger on her,neither Connor MacFarley nor you willhave a job.My family will close thishouse and throw you out, Miss Ronan.Do you understand? She no longer looked bored.Withprecise articulation indicating focusedcontrol, she answered. You have madeyourself perfectly clear.Yes, Iunderstand. Let her go, Anna ordered.MacFarley raised his hands in the airin surrender and the girl flew to Anna,clinging to her like a drowning person to alife ring.Anna s voice was low andmeasured. Where I come from, there arelaws against attacking children.You aredespicable.Get out of my house. MacFarley shot a glance at MissRonan, who looked away.Without aword, he stomped out of the room.No onemoved or spoke until after the front door slammed. I m sorry, miss. Deirdre sniffled,still clinging to Anna.Anna ran her handsthrough the girl s mess of hair that hadbeen in a tidy knot at dinner. You didn t do anything wrong.Youhave nothing to be sorry for. When I stole a look at Miss Ronan, sheappeared to be moved.Her features hadsoftened and her lip quivered.She caughtme looking and immediately stiffened intoher stoic self. Will there be anythingelse, Miss Leighton? Yes.I want her things moved up to myroom.She s going to stay with metonight. The girl clung even tighter.Anna metmy gaze over her head and I smiled.Her heart was so giving and strong.Never hadI known anyone like her.Once Anna had tucked Deirdre into herbed with the plate of food and the iPadplaying a movie made of drawings about amouse, she joined me on the upstairsbalcony overlooking the entry hall. I mgoing to find a way to get her off thisisland before that monster hurts her. Sheglanced over her shoulder at the closeddoor. Poor thing.She ll be asleep beforethe movie is over. You need some sleep too, I said. I slept all day. I know.I was there. Why didn t you wake me up? It had been almost impossible. You were so peaceful. She leaned her elbows on the railing. So, did I do or say anythingembarrassing? I slept too. Not while you were drawing me. I smiled. What did I say? I leaned my elbow on the railing nextto her. You told me that you wanted meforever. She blushed and straightened. That sso embarrassing. Why? It just is. I wrapped my arm around her andpulled her against me. You onlyarticulated my exact thoughts.I want you forever, Anna.In this world and whatevercomes after. She entwined her fingers in my hairand pulled my lips to hers. Forever isn tlong enough, she said just as the BeanSidhes started up.I pulled away laughing. It s not funny! she said. They redoing it on purpose. They re reminding us to stay true toour task.We need to solve the murders. This is making me crazy.You guyssuck! she shouted at the air. Shut up.We re working on it. Where should we start? I asked,chuckling.She looked around and settled her gazeon the alcove to her uncle s room. Where he hung out the most, I guess. The room was even more oppressivethan I remembered it from the enormouscarved bedposts with depictions of gamehanging to dry to the grim paintings in thegilt frames.Most were still-life oilpaintings, but something about the subjectsunnerved me.They featured fruit orflowers past their prime in various statesof decay and rot.Several had flies orworms.And everything about the roomwas dark.I felt certain that even in thedaytime with the red curtains drawn open,it would still be gloomy.I pulled one of the smaller paintingsdown and held it close to the lamp. Whose initials are these: FMR? She continued rummaging through a desk drawer
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