They left the sitting room and moved up the stairs. Madison worried about Alice, mainly because of the odd stares she'd been receiving from her ever since Madison had seen the vision about Cameron's prisoner. When they reached Rosie's room and walked inside, Madison realized before she could move on, she needed to ask Alice questions.

"I've noticed," Madison began, "that you have been looking differently at me since I'd mentioned the vision I had when I touched your brother."

Alice's cheeks darkened with a blush, and she dropped her gaze to the floor. "Yes. I..." her throat jumped in what must have been a hard swallow, "I've never witnessed my brother so perplexed."

"Never?" It surprised Madison that she'd been able to make him do something he wasn't used to doing. Then again, most people didn't know how to react when talking about her gift.

"So tell me," Alice asked in a small voice, "did you really see a man in that small room?"

"Yes, I did. I didn't see his face very well, except for the cut on his cheek. I don't know who he is, and I don't know where the room is located."

"Tell me about your visions." Alice seemed more confident now as she kept her stare on Madison. "What do you usually see?"

"Most of the time, I can see what's happening now. So if the person is asleep, I can see them in bed, with their eyes closed. If the person is running, I can see that, too. Usually, I hear sounds. I don't often receive visions about something that has happened in the past, but once in a while, it happens. I like to touch an object that held some kind of significance for the missing person because that helps me to see better."

As soon as she said it, she sucked in a breath. Did that mean Cameron and the dead man in the room had some kind of deep connection? Worry clenched her chest. She prayed that didn't mean Cameron had killed him. Although she disliked the man, she didn't think he was a killer.

Alice looked down at the hairbrush in her hands. "So if this didn't work, how will you know what will do the trick?"

Madison shook her head. "I won't know until I touch it."

"Rosie has a room full of personal items."

Tightness consumed Madison's throat. Cameron seemed to think Rosie left on her own, and so far, that was exactly what she thought, as well. But she couldn't let Alice know her thoughts. Not yet. Perhaps her vision would show something different.

"Please, walk around her room and touch anything you wish." Alice swiped her hand in the air. "There's no time like the present to get started."

"Agreed." Madison moved to the girl's vanity and slowly brushed her fingers across each object, but no visions came her way. In fact, the only thing going through her mind was Cameron. She wished she could clear out his image, but he just wouldn't leave. "Tell me about your brother. What is he like on a normal day?"

"Well, he's been like a father most of my life. Our father died four years ago, but even before that, he wasn't really there...mentally. So Cam stepped in as a father figure earlier than planned. Cam has always been responsible. He's very protective of us, as well."

Madison listened to Alice as she moved from object to object, running her fingers across everything, hoping a spark would ignite, but so far, her vision wasn't happening. "How old is your brother?"

"His birthday is next month, and he'll be twenty-eight."

Madison really shouldn't ask, but she just couldn't stop her curiosity. "Forgive me for prying, but why hasn't he married yet?"

Alice chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed. "I have wondered that quite a lot, actually. I have never asked him. I remember that he courted a few times, but his heart was never in it for some reason. I believe he was thinking of his sisters."

"Why do you say that?"

Alice sighed sadly. "Because even after he married, we would have to live with him."

Madison walked to the bed and ran her fingers over the pillow and quilt. "Don't you think you will find a man to marry?"

She frowned. "No."

"But you're a lovely girl. Why hasn't any man noticed you yet?"

She shrugged. "I fear it's because I don't have a dowry. I also believe it's because of the scandal my father left before he died."

"But that was four years ago."

"Some people in this area are not very forgiving."

Madison stood in front of Alice. "Does your brother allow you to attend balls and other social functions so you can meet marriageable men?"

She shook her head. "Not that much. I think it's because he doesn't like to attend, himself."

"Why do you think that is?" Madison stepped to the armoire.

"I don't know. He's not been very open with Rosie or me. We never know what's going through his mind."

Madison peeked over her shoulder. "You don't think he's purposely keeping secrets from you, do you?"

Alice scratched her cheek and frowned. "I couldn't say. I don't feel he's keeping secrets, but I think he doesn't want to burden us with his problems."

"That could be right." Madison surveyed the room. What else was in here that she hadn't touched? She had a sinking feeling that whatever she needed wasn't in this room. And yet, she didn't want to wander throughout the house, touching everything, just to see. Besides, she probably didn't have time to do that. "I don't think any clues are in here. Do you know where Rosie was before she was taken? Where was the last place you saw her?"

She pointed to the vanity. "She was sitting on the stool fixing her hair that morning. Later in the morning, I had ridden into town to the library. I also called upon some friends. When I returned, Rosie was gone."

"Do you think she could have had something to eat?"

"Oh, certainly." Alice hurried into the corridor. "She would have had our housekeeper, Mrs. Trumble, get her a plate of food."

Madison followed behind. "Would she have eaten in the kitchen or the dining room?"

Alice snickered. "We grew up not having a lot of money for servants, and we did just fine for what we had, but Rosie always wanted Mrs. Trumble to treat her like she was a queen." Alice rolled her eyes. "She wanted Cam and me to treat her that way, as well, but we didn't."

Madison smiled. She'd never had siblings, and really, Josephine was the only one who had been that close to Madison. Still, she wished she had a bigger family. As sadness crept over her, she mentally pushed it away. There was no reason to wallow in her pitiful circumstances. She must keep moving forward with a positive attitude.

On their way toward the stairs, Madison surveyed the corridor. It was decorated with hanging pictures on the red and gold papered walls, there wasn't much else considered fancy except for the small tables that scattered along the way, each holding some type of object—a lamp, a vase, an old fashion basin—and a music box. The walnut wooden music box grabbed her attention more than the other items. The dark wood box was as large as a plate and was about six inches thick. The engraving on the top was of a pink rose.

She smiled. I love roses!

Curiosity got the best of her, and she had to hear the music. She placed her hand on the lid to open it... Immediately, an image popped into her mind.

A small room. One window with a ripped, dirty-white curtain. No rug on the floor. One tiny bed with worn blankets. The door to the room was closed. Madison couldn't see anyone in the small space, yet...somebody was there because sobs echoed off the walls.

Madison's chest tightened as panic grew inside of her. Why couldn't she see the person in the room? She could definitely feel them and hear them. The person inside the room was frightened, and as each second passed, their heartbeat quickened in fear, which made Madison's speed up.

In her vision, booming footsteps moved noisily outside of the room. People were arguing and yelling. The sobbing increased. Within seconds, the door handle jiggled. The sobbing stopped.

Madison's body grew weak as she concentrated. Was this Rosie? Was Madison feeling the terror shooting through Cameron's sister?

Suddenly, the door in her vision flew open, but Madison couldn't see who it was except that he was a brute of a man. A bright light shone into her eyes, making it impossible to see his face. However, she could see his scraggly hair that hung to his shoulders. It appeared brown...like a muddy brown.

"Will you stop your incessant crying?" he snapped. "I can't think when you're in here making that noise."

"Uh-huh," she sobbed quietly.

Madison couldn't figure out why the girl wasn't in her vision. But when the man marched toward the girl, Madison sucked in her breath as fear shook through her.

He raised his hand. "Cry one more time, and I'll give you something to cry about."

Fear paralyzed Madison. In a flash, pain exploded in her head, and she covered her hands over her ears to make the sounds disappear. Something was wrong...terribly wrong!