House Of Secrets Read Online Free Page B

said.
    Just then our father crossed the room to switch off the music. I fully expected our mother to complain, but there wasn’t as much as a word. I couldn’t tell if she was even still in the living room. Maybe she’d gone to bed.
    Without the music playing, however, I could hear another sound. It was our father and he was muttering and talking to himself. He was also crying. At least that was what it sounded like. I heard him sniffing and saw him wipe the back of his hand against his eyes.
    “Why is Daddy crying?” Geena asked in a hushed whisper.
    So it wasn’t my imagination. He really was crying. I’d never seen this before and it scared me. Something must have been very wrong if he was that upset.
    “I have to do this for the girls.” His words were as clear as those Geena had just spoken. I shook my head and leaned closer to the rail.
    “It’s for them. They will be safe.”
    He took a prescription bottle from his pocket and opened it. I was mesmerized by the scene. What was he doing? What did he have to do for the girls—for us? I suppressed a yawn and watched as he crushed the pills and sprinkled them in the hot chocolate.
    “What’s he doing?” Piper asked.
    I pushed her back and put my finger to my lips. Returning my attention to the scene below, I watched as our father mixed the medication into the drink. I was old enough to know that something was desperately wrong. I wanted to go to Daddy and offer him whatever comfort I could, but instead I sat frozen in place.
    “It has to be this way. I must be strong and see this through,” our father said. He put the spoon aside and squared his shoulders. He stood completely still for a few moments. I guessed that he was calming himself and getting his tears under control.
    “Tony? What happened to the music?” our mother questioned. She sounded far off, and I figured she was probably in the master bedroom. “Tony, you know how important it is.”
    “I was afraid it would wake the girls,” Daddy called back. “I fixed your hot chocolate while you were showering. It’s ready if you want it.”
    Momma said something I couldn’t understand and Daddy picked up the cup and moved out of sight. I punched Geena lightly.
    “We need to go back to bed.”
    I hoped that Daddy wouldn’t hear us scurrying across the floor. I waited until Geena and Piper disappeared into their rooms before heading into mine. What was going on? What had we just witnessed?
    The scene faded from my thoughts and I tried to open my eyes, but my lids felt like they were weighted down. I could hear my mother humming as she often did. She told me this was to keep the FBI from reading her mind. She said they were trying to find her—to use her against her will to help them solve a crime. I couldn’t remember the first time she’d told me this, but it seemed I’d always known it.
    Now I was walking down the stone steps to the beach. My mother’s humming grew louder. I called to her—at least I think I did. Everything seemed so confused and obscured. A hazy darkness seemed to settle over my vision as I lifted my gaze to the water.
    “Bailee?”
    I opened my eyes to find Geena tapping on the window and calling my name. I unlocked the door and she slid onto the seat.
    “Here’s your coffee. It tastes pretty strong so I put quite a bit—” She stopped in midsentence. “Are you all right?”
    I shook the scene from my mind, straightened, and put the seatback upright. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “You look like you just saw a ghost.”
    I cast a quick glance behind her. “Where’s Piper?”
    “Restroom. What’s wrong?”
    I shook my head. “I was just thinking back to that night.” I took the coffee from Geena. “I closed my eyes and that’s what came to mind.”
    “I suppose it’s only natural.” She looked out the front windshield to the back of the SUV in front of us. “Why do you think Dad’s arranged this?”
    “No idea.” I sipped the coffee and grimaced. It