“It’s okay. I’m not going to tell anyone.”

I swallowed, forcing myself to find my voice, not to show fear. “Not as long as I pay up, right? Well, I don’t have any money. I work at the diner. You know, that place where I saw you last night. You were watching me there.”

“I don’t want your money.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Where’s your necklace?”

Before I could answer I saw Ethan walk out of the rental place. He was putting his money back into his wallet, so luckily he didn’t see Dylan.

“Go!” I said in a loud whisper.

Dylan turned toward Ethan and then looked back at me. “The necklace,” he said as he took off running down the beach.

So, he had given me the necklace. Maybe Ethan was right. Maybe Dylan did have a thing for me. That would make him even more sick and twisted than I’d thought. Who would willingly want to be with a killer? Or was he asking about the necklace because he wanted it back? Maybe he wanted to get it back and forget about me. If only I had it to give back to him. Maybe he’d go away for good.

“You want to go home? Lie down until work?” Ethan asked, walking up to me.

“Yeah. Sorry again for ruining your idea. I really wanted to go canoeing with you.”

“Some other time.” He kissed my forehead before draping his arm around my shoulders and walking me back to the car.

Since we’d never gotten to watch that movie last night, Ethan put it on, and we passed the morning laughing at the bad acting. When the movie ended, we still had some time before our shift, but we both decided to go to work anyway. We knew Gloria and Jackson needed the help, even if they were too nice to ask for it. I was feeling fine, good actually. No attacks brewing at all.

Gloria yelled at us the second we walked through the doors. “I told you not to come in early. We’re doing just fine without you.” But I could see the relief on her face. She wasn’t fooling anyone. She was happy we were there.

Ethan squeezed my elbow before heading into the kitchen, where I heard Jackson give a joyful yell. He didn’t hide the fact that he liked having Ethan around as much as possible.

I put on my apron and grabbed the coffee pot, but it slipped from my hands as big, black spots filled my sight. Damn it! Another vision. Scorching hot coffee spilled all over the floor and my feet. Luckily my sneakers took the brunt of it, but a few drops burned my ankles. I cried out in pain, and I slumped to the floor as I lost my sight completely.

A few customers screamed, and I felt Gloria’s hands propping up my head. Ethan was at my side, too.

“Sam!” His voice was full of panic. “Sam, can you hear me?” He held my hand and gently patted my face. My eyes were open, but I couldn’t see a thing. Then the curtain lifted, and there was George, the storage facility manager. He was sitting in front of a fire, and a Christmas tree was all lit up to his left. He handed a gift to a woman sitting on the couch next to him.

“Here you go, sweetie. I know you’re going to love this one.”

She tore open the wrapping paper and opened the small box. “The Bahamas?” She threw her arms around George. “I didn’t think you knew I wanted to go.”

“Are you kidding? I saw all those magazines you left lying around the house. I may work a lot, but I’m not oblivious to everything. And thanks to me working so much, we can afford to stay for two weeks.”

Her smile widened. “George Peterson, you are the best man I know.”

The scene darkened, like someone dimming the lights. Everything went black again, and Ethan’s voice filled my ears. I was sure he’d been talking this whole time, but I couldn’t hear him over the vision playing in my mind.

“Yes, she collapsed. She has some burns on her legs from coffee she spilled, and she might have hit her head on the floor. She’s not responding.”

“Ethan,” I said, beginning to see his outline. “Hang up the phone. I’m fine.”

He dropped the phone and held my face in his hands, looking me over. “What happened?”

“I fainted, I think. I’m okay now, though.” Physically, I was fine, other than the few burns. Emotionally, I was a wreck. George Peterson had been a good man, and now he’d never get to take his wife on that trip to the Bahamas. Disgust and pain tore through my insides. How much longer could I handle fooling everyone? How much longer could I allow myself to live at the expense of others?

Ethan helped me sit up. “Take it easy. The paramedics are on their way.”

“I don’t need the paramedics.” There wasn’t anything they could do for me.

He shook his head, not believing me. “People don’t faint for no reason.”

Gloria’s eyes widened, and she leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

I pulled back. “What? No!”

“What?” Ethan asked.

I wasn’t about to tell him what she’d said. If I did, he’d faint. “Nothing. Now can you guys give me some room? I’d like to get off the floor. The coffee is soaking into my shorts.”

Ethan insisted on holding my arm while I stood up, but Gloria backed away. Jackson was watching from the door of the kitchen.

“Seriously, guys, I’m fine. A little clumsy and maybe dehydrated from this heat, but I’ll be okay.”

Gloria insisted I sit down at the counter and drink some water before I even attempted to start working. Ethan made me promise to let the paramedics look at me before I sent them away.

The whole process took an hour. One long, humiliating hour. I knew what was wrong with me, and it wasn’t anything modern medicine could fix. I was relieved when the paramedics left and I was cleared to work. At least waiting on tables would take my mind off things for a little while.

“Samantha, your friend was here.” By the way Gloria said friend, I knew she was talking about Nora.

“Ugh, please tell me I missed her. That would be the only good thing to come out of this very embarrassing afternoon.”

“Yes, you missed her, but she asked me to give you this.” Gloria handed me a white envelope.

I wrinkled my brow, wondering if Nora had actually paid me all the tips she’d stiffed me on.

I took the envelope. “Thanks.”

“Finish that water before you start taking orders, got it?”

“Yes, Gloria.” I took another sip to satisfy her, and then I opened the envelope. Inside was a yellow Post-it note.

Meet me out back.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I LOOKED around, making sure Nora wasn’t lurking by the bathroom or by the door. I didn’t see her anywhere. I stared at the note some more, not even sure why I was considering meeting her. She’d been nothing but a pain in my ass since I met her. She owed me tip money, and she’d gotten me in trouble with Gloria.

So why did I want to see what she had to say?

I know what you are.

If she really had left me that note, I had a reason to go meet her. I couldn’t risk having another person tell my secret. Nora was at the diner every day. She could easily tell Ethan about me. She could ruin my life. I couldn’t let her do that. I had to at least talk to her and see what she knew or what she thought she knew.

“Gloria?” I stuffed the envelope in my purse and put it back behind the counter.

“You feeling all right?” she asked.

“Yeah, much better, but I was wondering if you could cover for me for another minute or two. I’d like to get some fresh air before I get to my tables.”

She eyed me, trying to figure out if I was really okay or if I was faking.

“Seriously, I’m good. I just want to get some fresh air. It’s a little stuffy in here from the crowd.”

“Okay. Ten minutes. And if you’re a second late, I’m coming out after you.”

“Thanks.” I squeezed her forearm. “Oh, and could you not tell Ethan? He’ll just worry, and I’m really fine.”

She nodded. “Ten minutes.”