At the very least, they deserved real burials instead of being discarded like trash. But revealing that I knew they were there would place me in danger without knowing the threat.
My lunch was waiting for me in my room. I sat down to eat without tasting much. I had the urge to talk to John, even knowing he wasn't there. The house was too quiet with everyone in mourning.
Uncertain what to think about Taylor, I was relieved he'd gone to work rather than stay with me. His home had burnt down, or I'd search it.
Convenient timing. I lowered the glass of water from my lips and gazed at the hearth. My previous suspicions resurfaced: Taylor's connection to the man who burnt down his cabin, his secret about the night he found me, how he knew what he shouldn't about me. He was always around when I needed him most.
Unease stirred within me. He had also rescued me twice, held me when I was upset last night and had multiple chances to do something bad to me.
Stay away from him, Josie. He's dangerous. Carter seemed pretty certain.
The more I thought about him, the more confused I became.
But the real danger was someone else. Someone in the house. That much I felt with certainty.
Sad and distraught, I flung myself onto my bed to stare at the ceiling before I sat up suddenly.
Without Nell looking over my shoulder, I had time to look at the phones the girls had left in more depth. I closed and locked my door before dropping beside the armoire and sliding the bottom drawer open. I carefully pulled the fake bottom of the drawer open to reveal the three phones.
I replaced the drawer and took the phones to the space between the wall and bed, where no one who had a key could enter and see what I did. I started with the oldest phone with the cracked screen. I flipped it on and off and then squinted at the screen to try to read any messages that popped up.
"Nada," I murmured and set it aside. I reread the messages on the other two. Carter had been in a panic when he sent them. Taking a picture of one, I sent it to him with a note. Why did you tell her to get out?
The phones were in good shape, aside from the oldest one with a busted screen. There was no indication of who they belonged to, no stickers or personalized covers. Disappointed not to find more out about the mysterious women, I returned them to the armoire and sat back.