"Is she your sister?"

"Did she tell you that?"

"It doesn't matter how I know."

"If you do know, you do not need my confirmation."

"Yes. I do need for you to confirm it. I do not believe you would choose to lie to me."

"And you believe that Maddie would?"

"No, of course not. It's just that she does not want to talk about her past with me."

"You are not alone."

"What do you mean?"

"She will not talk to me either."

"But you are her brother."

"Yes, and she asked me to lie for her."

"So you are not her brother?"

"Yes, I am." Thor looked terrified.

"What did you mean when you said that Maddie asked you to lie?"

"You will need to ask Maddie concerning the things you want to know."

Hayley reached out her hand and touched Thor's arm.

"You seem to be tormented by something, what is it?"

I suppose it won't hurt if I tell you what I know since it is not very much." Thor ran his huge hand through his hair. "She wanted our parents to think she had died in a fire."

Hayley felt a lump in her throat. She was afraid if she spoke, Thor would not continue.