“For what?”
A customer had just entered the shop.
Marcus lowered his voice even more.
“When you get home. Somewhere private. Look carefully.”
My stomach tightened.
“Marcus, what did you see?”
He shook his head.
“Not here.”
That was all he would say.
I paid.
Took Ethan home.
And spent the entire drive watching him through the rearview mirror.
He looked completely normal.
He was talking again at full volume, thrilled because the candy machine had apparently given him two gumballs instead of one.
Ten minutes later, we were in our kitchen.
“Hold still,” I said.
Ethan immediately looked worried.
“Did he mess up my haircut?”
“No. I just want to check something.”
I moved the hair behind his left ear.
At first, I saw nothing.
Then I noticed a small flesh-colored patch tucked into the crease behind the ear.
It blended almost perfectly with his skin.
I touched it.
