In the margin Nora had sketched the back-door latch.
Beside it she had written:
Outer door vibration = loose, fast.
Inner latch = short metal scrape.
Different sound.
Lucas pointed.
“You wrote that before you told me?”
Nora nodded.
“When?”
“After the second rattle.”
“Why?”
“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.”
Lucas felt something tighten in his chest.
“You don’t need perfect proof to tell somebody you’re worried.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
Nora looked at him.
He sat beside her.
“When something feels wrong, you tell us first. We figure out proof later.”
She studied his face.
“Is that because of your niece?”
Lucas froze.
He had mentioned Lily once.
Months ago.
Only once.
“You remember that?”
“You said adults didn’t listen to her.”
Lucas looked toward the floor.