Sally and Simon took me home a few days into December. Some early celebrators had already strung up their Christmas lights. Mrs Hoffman’s house was a blaze of colour, enough to be worth a detour off the highway. Our home was dark, not a candle or a bauble in sight.

Simon opened the door. ‘Now you’re back, Sky, we can get decorating.’

‘So, do we go for tasteful Olde England or brash new world?’ asked Sally too cheerfully.

I played along, knowing they wanted to think I was better than I was. ‘If we do, can I have an inflatable Santa hanging out of my window.’

‘Absolutely, as long as I can have flashing reindeer on the roof.’

Flashing lights—a palm tree, rollercoaster rides.

‘What is it, love?’ Simon put his arm round me.

This was happening all the time now: I’d see glimpses of things—a chair, a jet plane, a bed—none of which I understood.

‘Nothing. Just having one of my moments.’

I dumped my case on my bed and sat down, staring at the walls. Turquoise. I’d quite forgotten to practise shielding. I must be leaking thoughts and feelings to Zed all the time but he’d been too kind to tell me. Somehow I didn’t have the energy to pick up where I left off. He’d told me I’d contacted him while I was being held by my mystery kidnappers. I’d claimed to be in Las Vegas, which he’d found hard to believe until I turned up in the warehouse. He thought I’d tried to tell him exactly where I was but he had missed most of my message. The Benedicts had acted on what I’d managed to say and travelled to Vegas because the city was Daniel Kelly’s powerbase—the coincidence was too much to be ignored. They still believed there was a link: Gator, the man who had died in the warehouse, had been employed by Kelly’s corporation, but the police had been unable to connect the kidnapping back to the head man.

Victor was feeling pretty steamed about the whole thing. To add insult to injury, the two Kellys the Benedicts helped put away had slipped out of jail a few weeks ago; no one quite knew how they did it.

‘Sky, supper’s on the table!’ Sally called.

I went down and pretended to have a greater appetite than I did. Sally had cooked my favourite pasta and bought in a tub of special ice cream. We were all making an effort to make the evening a success.

I toyed with the spaghetti. ‘Do you think I should go back to school?’

Simon topped up Sally’s wine then poured himself a glass. ‘Not just yet, love. Actually, I’ve … er … been wondering.’

‘Hmm?’ Sally looked up, hearing the cautious note in his voice.

‘I heard from this lady from Las Vegas today—Mrs Toscana. She runs one of those casino hotels. Turns out she was behind the secret donation that paid for the convalescent home.’

‘Oh, how kind of her.’

‘That’s what I told her. Anyway, she heard about the kidnapping and has seen our portfolio on the web; she wondered if we might consider a new contract advising on the art acquisitions made by the hotel chain. They’ve got hotels all over—Rome, Milan, Madrid, Tokyo, London, as well as throughout the States. It would last longer than a year and allow Sky to finish her schooling in one place. She mentioned there were some excellent high schools in Vegas. She even recommended a few.’

Sally swirled her wine in the glass. ‘I don’t know, Simon. If we move anywhere, I’d prefer to go back to England. I don’t think our American adventure has been a great success. And Vegas—well, the memories aren’t pleasant.’

Simon twisted the spaghetti expertly around his fork. ‘I didn’t commit us. She suggested that we talked more about it, explored the possibilities before rejecting the idea. She invited us down for a weekend—Sky too.’ He took a bite. ‘I must say the salary she mentioned far exceeded my expectations.’

‘Sky? What do you think?’ Sally asked.

‘Huh? Oh, I wasn’t really listening.’

‘Do you need a change from Wrickenridge?’

‘I don’t think I want to move again just now.’

‘Can you face school here knowing that everyone is aware what happened to you? We wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a fresh start somewhere else.’

‘Can you let me think about this?’

Simon nodded. ‘Of course. We can go take a look without making any commitments. It’ll help you decide. After all, you didn’t really get to see Vegas, just the hospital and that … that warehouse. You might enjoy the city.’

‘Maybe.’ I shelved that for the moment, my mind too caught up with getting used to being home again to think about moving.

Karla and Saul Benedict came to call on Saturday morning. I’d never felt at ease with Zed’s mother since our first meeting, but she was on her best behaviour today, giving no sign that she was reading me. Ironically, I wouldn’t have minded someone telling me what was going on in my head as I hadn’t a clue. I remembered the conversation I’d had with Saul about my relationship with their son; would they still be so keen on having me in their family now they knew I’d cracked up in Vegas?

Sally and Simon sat with me as we entertained the Benedicts in the kitchen. There was none of the zany fun I’d had in the Benedict home when I’d gone there. They exchanged a few stilted pleasantries, talking about the concerts planned for Christmas and the busy season on the slopes. I felt sad that I wasn’t taking part in the music as I had planned to do. Rehearsals would be going on at school without me. Finally, Saul turned to me, coming to the point of the visit.

‘Sky, it’s good to see you back in Wrickenridge.’

‘Thanks, Mr Benedict.’

‘Zed’s told us what you said to him about having false memories.’

I looked down at my hands.

‘We think we can help you.’

Simon cleared his throat. ‘Now, Mr Benedict, I appreciate you coming here, but we’ve got Sky an excellent doctor. She’s seeing to her treatment. I don’t think we should mess around with it.’

‘That would be all very well in the normal course of things,’ said Karla, her tone betraying an edge of impatience, ‘but we believe Sky’s problem might lie out of the realms of normal medicine.’

The look Sally and Simon exchanged was clear. They were hostile to any suggestions out of their control; the Benedicts were not the only family who knew how to circle the wagons.

‘That may be so, but she’s our daughter and we will decide with her what’s best.’ Simon stood, signalling that as far as he was concerned this friendly visit was at an end.

Saul kept his eyes on me. ‘We would like you to spend some time with our family, Sky. When we get together, there are things we can do to help someone in your situation.’

The prospect terrified me—but I also knew I wasn’t getting anywhere under the doctor’s methods for all Sally’s and Simon’s optimism.

‘It is time spent with your family that got Sky into the fix she’s in now!’ Simon no longer bothered to hide his anger. ‘Look, Mr Benedict—’

‘Please, call me Saul. We’ve been through too much together to still be so formal.’

Simon sighed, wind taken out of his sails. ‘Saul, we like Zed—he’s a fine boy—but Sky’s not likely to be around much longer to spend this time you’re talking about. Please, just leave us alone now. Sky’s had enough to put up with in her short life; don’t add to the stress she’s already under by making claims on her.’

Sally knitted her fingers together, clenching them tightly. ‘We’ve always known, since she was a little girl, that Sky’s mental condition is delicate. It’s not your fault, but it’s turned out that the association with your family with its exceptional problems has upset that balance. Please, leave her alone now.’

The argument was carrying on over my head. It was almost as if I wasn’t there.

‘Sally, please.’

‘It’s all right, Sky. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.’

‘Your daughter needs us,’ said Mrs Benedict.

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t agree.’ Sally joined Simon by the door, body language crystal clear. ‘We know what’s best for Sky. She’s been ours six years now and I think we know her rather better than you do.’

‘Stop it, all of you, please.’ I felt like a bone being quarrelled over by a pack of dogs. Everyone was so busy telling me they knew best, I couldn’t decide what that might be for myself.

Saul rose from the table. ‘Karla, we’re distressing Sky. We’d better go.’ He darted a glance at me. ‘The offer stands, Sky. Just think about it. For Zed’s sake, as well as yours.’

The Benedicts left with a slamming of car doors and strained goodbyes at the front gate. I remained behind in the living room, running my fingers over the piano keyboard. Was it my imagination, or did it sound out of tune too?

‘Well, really,’ said Sally, coming back into the house in a huff. ‘Is there nobody in Wrickenridge who doesn’t think they know better than us?’

‘Sorry you had to sit through that, love.’ Simon ruffled my hair. ‘I think they mean well.’

‘Right now Las Vegas is looking very tempting,’ added Sally.

Simon’s eyes glinted, like a driver seeing a gap in the rush hour traffic, knowing he could make a break for it. ‘Then I’ll give Mrs Toscana a ring, see what we can fix up.’

I didn’t want this attitude of full steam ahead to a new life; I wanted time to adjust to the one I’d been making for myself here. I wanted time to find out what there was between Zed and me. And for all this I needed my head back in the right place.

I closed the piano lid. ‘Can we not just think for a minute about what Mr and Mrs Benedict said? Maybe they can help.’

‘Sorry, Sky, but once bitten, twice shy.’ Simon flipped through the business cards until he found the one for the hotel in Vegas. ‘Getting tangled up in that family’s business has been a disaster. We don’t mind you seeing Zed here, but you’re not to go over to his house. You’re making progress, we don’t want any setbacks. I’ll just make this call.’

I had little energy for a fight at the moment so I made no promises, just got up, saying I was off to bed. I could hear Simon talking animatedly to his new contact, mentioning what weekends we had free and how much we were looking forward to visiting. I had no desire to go back to Vegas; why would I? Everything I wanted was here.

I sat at the end of my bed looking out of the window long after my parents had retired for the night. The sky was clear, moon shadows turning the snow a bruised blue. Winter had set in, the snow packed down, prepared to stay till spring. The thermometer was well below freezing, the icicles dripping from the eaves, lengthening daily. I scratched at my arms. I couldn’t bear this. I wanted to scream, pummel my head until it was back in shape. I was trying hard to pretend I was getting better but in fact I felt I was getting worse. I clung on to sanity, stepping lightly on the thin ice protecting my mind, but I feared that this was an illusion: I had already plunged through the cracks.

I stood up abruptly and walked to the window, fists clenched. I had to do something. There was only one place I could think of to go to prevent the damage spreading. Grabbing my dressing gown, I shoved open the casement. I knew what I was contemplating was mad, but then again I thought I was crazy, so what the hell. Regretting that my snow boots were downstairs—I didn’t want to risk alerting my parents to my plan—I climbed on to the porch roof, slid down to the edge and dropped to the ground. My soft shoes were immediately soaked but I now felt too driven by the belief that this was my one last hope to care.

I started to run down the road, feet crunching in the powder snow. I travelled from shivering cold to not feeling. Passing our car parked in the garage, I spared a wish that I had taken the opportunity of Coloradan laws letting sixteen year olds behind the wheel—Zed had once said he’d give me lessons but we’d never got to it. Never mind, it was only a couple of miles across town. I could make it.

I was walking by the time I turned into the steep road behind the ski lodges that led up to the cable car. The snow here was stamped down, freezing in icy ridges. When I looked at my toes, I realized the soles of my shoes were in shreds and my feet bleeding. Oddly, I couldn’t bring myself to care too much. I approached the Benedict house cautiously, wondering what security they had installed. They’d been expecting an attack and wouldn’t have let down their guard yet. A hundred yards out, I did feel a barrier—not a physical one but a sensation of unwillingness and fear compelling me to turn back. Slamming up my shield, I pushed on through, my determination to reach Zed far stronger than this counter-instinct. When I broke free, I sensed that I’d tripped some kind of alarm. Lights went on in the house ahead, first upstairs in the bedrooms, then down on the porch.

What was I thinking? I was planning to go knocking on their door in the middle of the night? This was gun-toting America, not England: I’d probably get shot before they realized who it was. My certainty that this was a good idea evaporated. I stood irresolutely on the path, considering if I had the energy to turn round and go home.

‘Stop right there. Put your hands up where we can see them.’ A man’s voice—one I didn’t recognize.

I was frozen to the spot—too cold to move, to think.

There came the unmistakable sound of a rifle bolt being slid—something I’d only ever heard in the movies. Images spun: Bugsy Malone—‘come out with your hands up’. I swallowed a hysterical gulp of laughter.

‘Step into the light so we can see you.’

I forced myself to move.

‘And I said ‘‘hands up’’!’

I raised my hands shakily.

‘Trace, it’s Sky!’ Zed burst from the house only to be pulled back by his arm. His oldest brother, Trace, the policeman from Denver, wasn’t letting him go.

‘It might be a trap,’ Trace warned.

Victor stepped out of the darkness behind me. He’d circled round to cut me off, gun trained on my back.

‘Let go of me!’ Zed struggled, but Saul joined the blockade.

‘Why aren’t you using telepathy, Sky?’ Saul spoke calmly, for all the world as if it were natural to have a girl turn up in her dressing gown at three in the morning.

I swallowed. There were too many voices in my head already. ‘Can I come in? You said I could come.’

‘Is she alone?’ Trace asked Victor.

‘Seems so.’

‘You ask her, just to make sure.’ Trace lowered the gun. ‘We can’t risk a mistake.’

‘Don’t you touch her, Vick! Leave her alone!’ Zed burst from his brother’s grasp and jumped the steps.

‘Zed!’ shouted Saul.

But too late. Zed reached me and folded me in his arms. ‘Oh baby, you’re freezing!’

‘I … I’m sorry to come like this,’ I murmured.

‘Stop being so damn British about it—you don’t need to apologize. Ssh, it’s fine.’

Saul reached us but didn’t have the heart to separate me from his son. ‘It’s not fine, not until we know why she’s here. She walked right through our security perimeter. She can’t have done that without help. Her powers aren’t that strong.’

Victor eased me away from Zed’s chest and held my eyes with his steely gaze. ‘Tell us why you’re here. Did someone send you?’ He was using his gift, layering his words with a compulsion to answer. I could hear it like a harmony running under the melody. It hurt. ‘Sky, you must tell me.’

‘Stop it, stop it!’ I sobbed, pulling away from them, stumbling backwards. ‘Get out of my brain, all of you!’ I tripped over, ending up sitting in the snow, head squeezed between my hands.

Zed shoved Victor out of the way and scooped me up in his arms. He was furious. ‘I’m taking her inside and I don’t care what you say. She’s mine—my soulfinder—and you’d better not try and stop me.’

This announcement was met with shock from his brothers, resignation from Saul.

‘Look at her—she’s blue with cold.’ Zed shouldered his way past his family and took me into the kitchen. Xav was there, along with Will, one of the brothers I was yet to meet properly; they were checking a monitor that had been set up on the kitchen counter.

‘She walked in,’ Will said. He was running some CCTV coverage of the gate to the cable car compound. ‘No sign of anyone else.’

‘Sky, what are you playing at?’ Xav moved towards me, then spotted my feet. ‘Sheesh, Zed, didn’t you notice she’s bleeding? Put her on the counter.’

Zed held me to him as Xav eased off what was left of my shoes. He closed his eyes and placed his palms on the soles of my feet. I immediately felt a tingling sensation like pins-and-needles and then pain as sensation flowed back into my toes.

Victor dropped his gun on the counter and took out the magazine. ‘Will, Xav, there’s something little brother’s forgotten to mention.’

Trace shook his head. ‘Yeah, meet his soulfinder.’

Xav’s touch pinched for a second, a jolt in the flow of energy, then he went back to healing.

Will whistled. ‘No kidding?’

‘That’s what he says.’ Trace glanced at his father, seeking confirmation. Saul nodded.

‘Well, wha’d’ya know.’ Will grinned at me, his happiness genuine. ‘Got any older sisters, Sky?’

Zed smiled at him gratefully. ‘Not that she knows—but we’ll try and find out for you.’

‘Don’t forget the rest of us,’ said Trace, his smile a little forced. ‘Some of us are running out of time.’

Saul clasped his son’s shoulder briefly. ‘Patience, son. You’ll find her.’

‘You walked here all on your own?’ Zed asked gently while the healing was progressing. ‘Why?’

‘I need help,’ I whispered, wishing I could burrow into his chest and disappear. He was so warm and I was so cold. ‘I needed you.’

Trace and Victor were still suspicious about my strange arrival. I could feel the waves of emotion flowing off them. Oh God, my gift had switched on again. I’d read the emotions in the warehouse but deadened myself to them ever since; here, in this house of savants, the ability to see people from their feelings came rushing back.

‘I want your brothers to know I’m telling the truth.’ I didn’t need to open my eyes to be aware where everyone was. The two older Benedicts hovered protectively by the door into the rest of the house. Their father’s emotions were mixed—fear, concern for me, and puzzlement. Will leaned on the counter, glowing with a cheerful spring green. Xav was concentrating on healing my feet, his presence a cool blue of concentration. And Zed, he was glowing with golden love and a purple edge of desperation to do something to help me.

‘You don’t think I’m here because someone sent me to hurt you, do you?’ I murmured, rubbing my cheek against his sweatshirt.

‘No, baby,’ he replied, nuzzling my hair.

‘Your dad said I could come.’

‘I know.’

Saul picked up the phone lying on the table. ‘What’s her number?’ he asked.

I’d forgotten all about my parents. ‘They don’t know I’m gone.’

‘Better to wake them up to tell them you’re safe than to let them discover your empty bed and worry.’

Zed reeled off the number and Saul had a quick conversation with Simon. I knew they would want to jump in the car and fetch me, but I didn’t want that after having come all this way.

‘I want to stay,’ I whispered. Then I found a stronger voice. ‘I want to stay.’

Saul glanced at me and nodded. ‘Yes, Simon, she’s OK, a little cold but we’re looking after her. She’s sure she wants to stay. Why not come and collect her after breakfast? No point turning out in the middle of the night when there’s no need. Yep, will do.’ He put the phone down. ‘He’ll drive over in the morning. He says that you were to get some rest and not worry.’

‘Am I grounded again?’

Zed ruffled the hair at the back of my neck.

‘He didn’t mention that.’ Saul smiled.

‘I bet I am.’

‘Until you’re fifty,’ said Zed.

‘I thought as much.’

Xav let go of my feet. ‘I’ve done what I can for your soulfinder.’ He used the term with relish. ‘She needs to keep warm and sleep it off now. The cuts are pretty much healed.’

‘Thanks.’ Zed lifted me up. ‘I’ll put her in my bed for tonight. Mom’s going to lend her some dry nightclothes.’

Snug and warm under Zed’s duvet, I didn’t feel sleepy. He was sitting on the window seat, guitar in hand, running through some soothing tunes. Karla had clucked a little about me being in Zed’s room but when it was clear he was not going to let me out of his sight, gave in, saying she trusted us to behave.

Zed leant his forehead against his mother’s, a gesture I found oddly touching seeing how much taller he was than her. ‘Tell me what you see, Mom. I’ve dropped my shields.’

Karla sighed. ‘I see you standing guard over her and behaving like a perfect gentleman.’

‘That’s right.’ He winked at me. ‘Sometimes having a mom who sees the future is a blessing.’

Now gazing at him framed by the night sky, I thought I’d never seen anything more perfect.

‘I love you, Zed,’ I said softly. ‘I don’t need to wait to sort out my memories; I know I do.’

He stopped playing. ‘Well, now.’ He cleared his throat. ‘That’s the first time you’ve said it to me face to face like this.’

‘I’ve told you before; I’m sure I have.’

‘No, you’ve hinted but you’ve never just come out with it.’

‘I do, you know—love you, I mean. I’m a little shy so I don’t say it easily.’

‘A little shy? Sky, you’re possibly the shyest person I’ve ever met.’

‘I’m sorry.’

He came and sat on the edge of the bed. ‘Don’t be. It’s part of what I love about you. You never think anyone’s going to like you and have this vaguely surprised expression when we all fall for you. It’s cute.’ He tapped the end of my nose.

‘I don’t want to be cute.’

‘I know, you want to be taken seriously.’ His expression was solemn but his eyes were laughing. ‘And I do—I swear it.’

‘You don’t—not about this.’

‘You don’t believe me?’

I shook my head. ‘I can read emotion you know.’

He brushed the hair off my forehead. ‘I may not have a poker face but I can’t believe I’m that transparent.’

‘You don’t understand. It’s my gift—I really can read what you’re feeling. My gift—it unlocked.’

He sat back, his colours shifting into the mauve of bewilderment. I could see him processing what I said, the emotions moving to the warm colours of his love for me as he came to terms with it. ‘That’s OK then, so you know that when I say I love you, I really mean it. You know you’re my soulfinder.’

‘Yes. But I can tell if you lie to me too about other things. People have a shifty yellow cloud to them when they tell a fib.’

‘Oh, well now, that isn’t fair.’

‘You can see the future.’

‘Not all the time—and not so much with you now.’

I smiled sleepily. ‘Then you’d better watch your step with me.’

He trailed the back of his hand over my cheek. ‘You’re enjoying having the advantage for once.’

‘Yeah, I’m ahead of the curve, or whatever you say here.’

‘God help us all.’ He nudged me over and stretched out beside me. ‘When did you discover this?’

‘In the warehouse. It was how I knew that you hadn’t hurt me even though my brain was telling me you had.’ I paused, the images were still so vivid. ‘Are you sure I never shot you—not even in make-believe like that fake knife?’

He groaned. ‘Don’t remind me of that. And yeah, I’m sure. It’s not something I’m likely to forget now, is it?’

‘I’m crazy, Zed.’ There, I’d admitted it.

‘Uh-huh. And I’m crazy too—about you.’