Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

tossed it Amelia’s way while she took out a calendar. “Robert
Cote’s.”
“He was the director before Mr. Reynolds.”
Amelia joined her, setting the flashlight on one of the boxes
so they could both read. Behind them, Emily began to hum but
Josie paid no attention.
“I’m going back to the house.”
“Why? For what?” Amelia caught her arm and pulled at her
but Josie wouldn’t be swayed.
“We need Emily’s medicine. We can’t give her this stuff.
Who knows how long it’s been here. We don’t know how long
we’ll be here or what will happen to her if she doesn’t get it.
Where do you keep it?”
“In her bathroom. There’s a week’s worth. There should be
more in Mr. Reynolds’ office, but I’m not sure where.”
Amelia’s eyes filled with tears. “Don’t leave me alone with
Emily. What if something happens? What if you don’t–”
Josie swooped down and took Amelia by the shoulders.
“This isn’t Washington. She isn’t your father. I’ll be back. I
will.”
Josie went back the way they had come, swallowed up in
the dark before Amelia could talk her out of it. Behind her
Amelia shined the light on Emily and that’s when she saw the
battery on Josie’s phone was dying.
***
Drenched, confused, and fearful, Josie watched the house from
the edge of the tropical forest. She saw nothing and could only
hope that whoever had been in there left once they finished
their grisly task. Josie wanted to go back to Emily and Amelia
but she couldn’t, she wouldn’t. It wasn’t just the need for the
medicine that drove her on; it was her desperate need to
understand all this. If there was something in that place that