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Sterling mansion. He figured he’d catch shit if he told you that.”
    I raised my eyebrows at my mom, surprised that she had sworn. “Catch hell,” she corrected herself.
    Helen took a step closer to me. “Claire knew about the new charm I just gave Amber,” she said. “The little boat. How could she have known that? I just gave it to my daughter this week.”
    â€œI imagine Amber wore that bracelet to school,” said Matt.
    â€œYes, I guess she did.”
    â€œIsn’t it possible Claire saw it then? She’s often up at the school taking pictures.”
    â€œI haven’t been up to the school this week,” I told him.
    â€œSo you claim.”
    â€œI suppose Claire could have seen the bracelet and forgotten,” Helen said.
    Ah hell, I thought. Now Helen doubted my story too.
    â€œMatt, please,” I begged. “At least have the volunteers and cops search for that van. I’m sure Amber and Doug are still in the wilderness area. I saw blood on Amber’s head, and she was unconscious. She clearly needs medical care. We’ve got to find that van before it’s too late!”
    Helen covered her mouth and sobbed when she heard me say that. Matt wrapped an arm around her. “I want you two out of here—now,” he told Mom and me. “Don’t make me call the cops.”
    He turned his back on us and led Helen to the coffee tent.
    I was nearly in tears too. I thought I could help Matt find Amber, but he wouldn’t let me. He clearly thought I was nuts.
    Worse, I was starting to doubt myself. Maybe I was just seeing things. Maybe I was as loopy as my mother.
    â€œI’m so sorry,” Mom said. “I made matters worse, didn’t I? I should have kept my nose out of this.”
    â€œYou were only trying to help.”
    â€œWe should call the cops ourselves,” she said. “Make them hunt for Doug’s van.”
    â€œAnd when they ask why, what do I tell them? That I had visions? If Matt doesn’t believe me, the cops sure as hell won’t.”
    Mom shook her head. “You’re right. They’ve never believed me either.”
    We both stared into the bonfire for a time. The warmth and crackle of the fire relaxed me a little. I put my hands in my pocket to warm them and felt Amber’s necklace there. Almost immediately, I had another vision.
    I saw Amber lying in the back of the moving van. Beyond her, I could see the front windshield and the back of a man’s head. He turned to his right, and I saw his face. Yes, it was definitely Doug Conner.
    Beyond, I saw a rough logging road in the dusky light. They were still on that mountain. I was absolutely sure of it.
    â€œI just don’t know what else to suggest,” said Mom, and my vision ended. “I don’t know what to do.”
    â€œI do,” I said. I dangled Amber’s necklace in front of her. Then I nodded at the mountain above us. “We go up there and find Amber ourselves.”

EIGHT
    I got Mom to drive my Honda Civic up the logging road. That way, I could hold Amber’s necklace and focus on my visions. It wasn’t the smartest decision I’d ever made. Mom was a nervous driver, especially on winter roads.
    She hunched over the steering wheel and peered out the windshield at the snowy road. The windshield wipers couldn’t keep up with the falling snow. She drove at a snail’s pace.
    â€œWe’ll never find Amber if you keep driving this slow,” I told her.
    â€œLook at that drop-off !” Her voice rose in panic. In the twilight, I could see the bank went straight down. “I go any faster, and we’ll be in that gulley.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” I said. “Just keep driving.”
    Mom glanced over at Amber’s necklace in my hands. “Do you sense her? Are we going in the right direction?”
    â€œI think so,” I said. “She’s still lying in the back of