"I think she's dead."

"No she ain't!"

"I think she's sleeping."

"Does this mean we don't get to ride the boat?"

Who's talking? I think it's children. But whoever it is, they're everywhere.

Reluctantly, I open my eyes. A collected gasp comes from the children.

"I told you she was alive!" someone says.

"Natalie?" It's Cathy.

Oh yeah! I'm at the lake! I'm alive? Who pulled me out of the water?

I'm laying on wet dirt. To my right is the lake, and to my left is the remaining moving van.

Crap! Preston!

"Is Preston okay?" I sit up, and Cathy's hands reach out to steady me.

I look at her. She's wet from head to toe, her blouse sticking to her skin.

"Preston's okay," she says. "Are you?"

"Yeah.... How'd I get here?"

"Preston tried to pull you-"

"Cathy really knows how to swim!" Jill's voice intercepts, and fills me with relief.

"Where's Preston?" I demand more sternly.

"Oh, let's just say he's developed a fear of water," says Cathy.

"He's in the truck," Jill says.

"Well," Cathy says, "as long as we're all alive, we can head back to the orphanage."

I gather my things and head back to the truck, ignoring the complaints of kids who didn't get a turn on the kayak. It's definitely gone now.

I sit beside Preston in the back of the van.

"Natalie," he says, "I no longer want to ride a motor boat."

---------------------------------------------

Back at the orphanage, I shower to rid myself of dirt before watching a movie with the kids. I can hardly even think. All I know is that strange things seemed to start happening upon the arrival of Stephano and Susan.

Cathy appears in the doorway. She turns as if she's about to leave, but then forces herself to walk in.

"Natalie," she says, stress lining her voice. "Come. I... I need to talk to you."

I follow her as she heads to her office. She gestures for me to sit on the other side of her desk.

Before she speaks, I blurt a question.

"Is this about the kayak? It's ruined."

She wrinkles her nose. "Partially.... In a way...."

She sits up straighter and says, "This is about you. And your parents."

My heart pumps a little faster. I hate talking about my parents. I'm getting better at not crying, but Cathy knows the truth.... How can I talk about them that way?

Cathy picks at her desk while slowly spinning her chair back and forth. "I'm assuming you know how they died, yes?"

I nod, not wanting to remember that day.

She gives me a wry smile. "You put the papers back so hastily.... But it did save me from having to tell you."

I play with my hands, begging myself not to cry.

"Natalie.... How do I say this?" She glances at the ceiling. "Your parents... aren't who you thought they were. No, more like they had a secret, and it's time for me to tell you.

A secret? What? My parents parents wouldn't have kept anything from me, would they?

I look at Cathy expectantly, and she draws in a deep breath before continuing.

"Twelve years ago, I worked for an agency. A detective agency. For the past ten years, the main goal of this agency was - and is - to find out who The Red is."

She pauses, so I ask, "Why aren't you still doing it?"

"The Red killed my husband."

A stunned look appears on my face, unwilling to leave.

"They're good at the bad things they do, Natalie," she tells me. "No evidence except a sticker. Heaven knows the meaning of that."

Tears are coming now. The weak wall I had to keep them out is crumbling.

"The Red watch very closely. Somehow they know when we're coming.

"The agency had two wonderful detectives. Their senses were sharp. They could pick out clues."

She looks at me, but I've already guessed.

"They were your parents. They didn't go on vacation."

She stays silent for a whole minute.

"Is that it?" I ask.

"No. The thing is... your parents wanted you to join the agency."

I look at her in alarm. "Is that why Susan and Stephano have been watching me?!"

"How did you-? Never mind. Yes, they were here to give reports to the agency about your behavior and observation skills. They also wanted to see if I had been informing you about your parents. You lied to them about their death."

My breaths quicken as I take in what is happening.

"Natalie," Cathy says, "they're adopting you. Tomorrow morning."

I push my chair back and run from the room before Cathy can witness me break down.