Miriam’s mouth dropped open, but no sound came out.
“Come on,” Ruth pleaded. She took Miriam by the arm and dragged her upstairs.
“Ruth, where are we going? We have to call the police. Jed—he’s out there and—”
“Mei and Noah broke in here tonight!” Ruth revealed. “My mom’s working late tonight. I fell asleep in the family room. A noise woke me up.”
They reached the top of the steps. Ruth’s bedroom stood straight ahead, the door slightly ajar. Yellow light washed out into the hallway.
Miriam shivered, wondering what Ruth was so desperate to show her.
“Mei and Noah were here! And they did this!” Ruth cried.
She pulled open her bedroom door. It swung wide and banged against the wall.
Taking a deep breath, Miriam stepped inside. Her eyes swept around the room. At first everything appeared normal. Posters covered the wall. The stereo on its shelf. The bed had been neatly made.
But then Miriam’s eyes moved to the wall behind the bed.
To the shelf beneath the window.
To the dark puddles on the carpet.
To the two bodies beside the dark puddles.