Upon hearing the other person claiming to be her "son," Hannah hung up without hesitation.
But soon enough, the caller redialed.
This time, the child on the other end had prepared to prove the truth of his words by reciting Hannah's address.
It was not the address of her current residence at Rose Manor, but of an apartment.
This was the place Arnold Simmons had bought for her when she first moved out of school, and very few people knew about it.
Before leaving, her pet, Big Round, bit the hem of her clothes, looking at her with round eyes.
"Going to see Jillian." Hannah bent down to put on her shoes.
Big Round ran to the side and nudged its little nest with its nose, as if trying to express something.
But Hannah didn't quite understand; she only wanted to find out who was playing a prank on her.
Hannah left the house.
Big Round lay on the windowsill watching her back, then raised its head and howled softly.
Jillian wasn't home, so there was no one to play with it.
...
