Chapter 4

"David," I said, cornering him as he was about to head to his room. "I need you to do something for me."

He looked surprised. "What's up, Sarah?"

"I need you to stay at Mark's tonight."

His brow furrowed. "Mark's? Why? His apartment is tiny, and I have all my study stuff here."

Mom and Dad, overhearing from the living room, looked equally confused.

"Sarah, what on earth?" Mom asked. "Why would David go to Mark's the night before his big exam day?"

"Jessica' s a light sleeper," I improvised, thinking fast. "And you know how you sometimes pace when you're stressed, David? Or talk in your sleep? I just... I want the house to be completely, absolutely quiet for her first night, so she feels comfortable. And for you, so you' re not worried about disturbing her."

It was a flimsy excuse, but I delivered it with an earnestness I didn' t feel.

David still looked hesitant. "I don't really pace that much..."

"Please, David," I urged, putting a desperate edge in my voice. "For me? And for Jessica? Just one night. You can come back first thing in_the_morning."

He sighed, but his kind nature won out. "Okay, okay. If it means that much to you. I' ll call Mark."

Mom and Dad exchanged puzzled glances but didn't argue further, probably chalking it up to my teenage weirdness.

Relief washed over me as David grabbed a small overnight bag and headed out, calling Mark to let him know he was coming.

I watched from my window as he walked across the street to Mark' s apartment complex. Step one of David' s alibi secured.

The next morning, I was up before anyone else. I checked on Jessica. She was deeply asleep, snoring softly, the empty milk glass on her nightstand. Good.

I made coffee, waiting.

Mom and Dad came down, ready for their usual Saturday morning errands.

"Is Jessica up yet?" Mom asked.

"Still sleeping, I think," I said casually. "Must have been really tired."

Just as Mom and Dad were about to head out, leaving the front door slightly ajar, Jessica stumbled out of the master bedroom, her hair a mess, eyes wide and disoriented.

She looked around wildly, saw David' s bedroom door closed, and a flicker of panic crossed her face.

Then, she saw the open front door, saw our neighbors across the street also heading out, likely to take their own kids to the exam centers.

Her expression shifted. This was her moment.

She took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and a raw, theatrical scream started to build in her throat. "He... he came into my room! The homeowner' s son! He assaulted me!"

But I was ready.

Before the sound could fully escape, before any neighbor could properly hear, I moved.

I lunged forward, clapped my hand hard over her mouth, and dragged her back inside, slamming the front door shut with my foot.

The sudden silence was deafening.