Page 10 of Strangers She Knows

Verona was a smart woman; she caught his comment and pounced on it. “What is happening?”

“Mom, you heard about last night’s crime in Cape Charade’s mortuary.” Max wasn’t asking a question.

Verona sobered. “Of course. So awful. Is it…that woman who…?”

“There can be no doubt.” Max rose, went to his mother’s side, and put his arm around her. “Kellen and I are taking Rae now, today, and going away.”

“Now?” Verona sounded as incredulous as Kellen felt.

“There’s no time to waste,” Max said.

“Rae was screaming because she has to leave during the last week of school?” Verona looked up as if truly comprehending Rae’s tantrum. “She’s going to miss all the fun!”

“Mom, this woman, this Mara Philippi, is a psychopath, a serial killer.” Max’s voice got stronger, then quieter. “She cuts off people’s hands when they disappoint or betray her.”

Verona breathed deeply, as if she was fighting an asthma attack brought on by shock and fear. “What about Luna? Rae won’t leave without Luna.”

“I’m sending Luna on ahead to our eventual destination with our cook.”

Kellen’s eyes grew wide.They had a cook?

“You have a cook?” Verona echoed Kellen’s thoughts.

“Olympia Paolergio.”

“Olympia Paolergio? From the village? From Cape Charade?” Verona sounded incredulous. “She’s not even one of our staff!”

“Kellen can’t cook. She can’t handle a knife or use fire. I can cook, but no one wants to eat what I prepare. Rae’s too young to do more than grate cheese and pour milk—and she grates her fingers and slops milk all over the kitchen. Olympia has agreed to go with us, do light cleaning and prepare our meals.” Max patted Kellen’s shoulder as if comforting her.

And why? Kellen didn’t remember an Olympia Paolergio. Who was this woman?

Verona gave her a clue. “Long ago, Olympia worked here and she can be…”

“Difficult? I know,” Max said. “But she also…”

“…will do much for money.” Verona’s brown eyes grew sharp behind her glasses. “My God, Max, how much are you paying her?”

“Enough to get her to agree to the terms. To sign a contract.”

“A hefty amount, then.”

“As long as she sticks it out.”

“She will.” Verona rubbed her fingertips together.Money.

He leaned into his mother’s gaze. “You have to go, too.”

“What? Now?” Verona strode toward him, grasped his shoulders. “We’ve got a week of school left. I’m the teacher!”

“I’ve called in a substitute.” Max really had made all the arrangements. “With Mara Philippi in the neighborhood, we can’t take a chance of her using any of us in a hostage situation.”

“I’m just the grandmother!”

Kellen knew what to say, and at last, she had the breath to say it. “You’re a matriarch of the Di Luca family. If Mara took you, she would bring us all to our knees.”

Verona stared at her daughter-in-law. They had not always gotten along. They still sometimes rubbed each other raw. But Kellen never doubted Verona’s loyalty to the woman who had given her a much beloved granddaughter. Verona nodded. “I understand.” She turned to Max. “Next week, I was going to visit your sister and Annabella—”

He answered, “You should go visit the family in Italy right now.”

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