Page 54 of Strangers She Knows

“But what if—?”

“What if what? What if Mara is here? No! While we’re safe here, she’s gone on a wild goose chase, seeking us all over the world.”

“And maybe looking up her former murderous colleagues?”

“According to the report I got from Diana…before she disappeared…there’s nothing to indicate that. You know Mara better than anyone. Would she do that? When she’s at the bottom and has nothing to offer?”

Kellen didn’t take offense at his assumption she knew Mara better than anyone. The friendship between them had been fraught with rivalry, and in the end Mara had been willing and eager to kill her. But when Kellen looked back on the time she’d spent with Mara, when she added in all the facts that had surfaced, Kellen had come to know more about her twisted, devious mind, and understand the way she had fooled everyone so completely. “Mara has to be in charge. Mara has to be on top. She loves a challenge, but only as a chance to sharpen her teeth in the battle to win again. And—” Kellen was thinking out loud “—when she focuses on one single problem, she focuses completely. If she’s after us, after me, and we’re sure she is, right?”

“According to all reports.”

“She won’t look left or right. In a way that’s an advantage. If she managed to bring in any of her old criminal network, that could cause us real trouble. But she wants to bring me down by herself. That’s important, that she does it alone.” Kellen leaned back, satisfied with her analysis of the situation. “That’s it. But that doesn’t fix anything. It doesn’t make our conundrum better. How did she escape from a top security prison? How could she be so smart she outwits us and the authorities?” Kellen was asking for reassurance, for him to tell her everything would be all right.

Max was patient with her, and he obliged. “This island is isolated. Most people don’t even know Isla Paraíso is here, or that the Di Lucas have anything to do with it. And you heard Juan Deung. He was surprised to see us and understood the need for silence. If Mara figures out she lost us, how could she pick up our track and follow us here?”

“That woman—”

“—is wildly intelligent in a horrible twisted way. I agree.” He took Kellen’s damaged hand and massaged it. “But if she could find us, how would she arrive? The island doesn’t have a harbor. It’s darned hard to get any kind of vessel even close. We’d notice an aircraft.”

“Yes.” They would.

“If she figured out a way onto Isla Paraíso, how will she hide herself? Unless she’s planning a quick slaughter, and you know that’s not how our girl works, to scope out our circumstances would take time. She’d have to bring all her food and water, and sooner or later—probably sooner—the Conkles will see her, or we will, and then we have her in our grasp.” He showed Kellen his other hand, then clenched his fist.

Kellen watched Rae disappear over the horizon. “All that’s true, but if she somehow found Rae here, she could do terrible things to her.”

“We both agree it’s you Mara wants.”

I’ll take everything from her, the way she took everything from me. I’ll make her sorry she betrayed me.

“Mara sneaked into our wedding. She could have confiscated a butcher knife, used the turmoil to stab me to death. She disappeared after I lost consciousness, and only reappeared when I was healthy again. The incident in Cape Charade at the funeral home…that was a warning. A horrible, gruesome omen she crafted to frighten us. It worked.” Kellen turned away from the window and gripped the back of the chair so tightly the wooden finials bruised her palms. “I’m frightened, because I know Mara doesn’t merely want me dead—she wants me to suffer.”

“Rae’s a pretty smart kid. She’s not going to talk to a stranger.”

“No? No. It’s just that she’s so…”

“Friendly? Outgoing?”

“Mad at me.”

Max looked toward the kitchen, noted the trail of water, realized what he hadn’t realized before—Rae hadn’t expressed concern about her mother’s fall. Sweet little Rae had been exasperated and angered. “Why you in particular?”

“Because I’m her mother. Because she’s ten years old. Her world is upside down. Her hormones have started on their rampage. She needs all the attention and all the love.”

He got it. “And you just got all the attention.”

“Because somehow she suspects it’s my fault that we’re here.”

“Now, that’s impossible. I told her it was my fault.”

“You’re her daddy. You’ve always been there for her. Itcan’tbe your fault.” She turned and looked out the window again. “Mothers and daughters—we’re either best angel friends or hell’s demons incarnate, and there’s nothing in between.”

“As my mother always says, ‘Craziness is inherited—you get it from your children.’”

“We need to tell Rae.”

“No. Right now, Rae’s just so volatile. So vulnerable. She’s having so much fun here!”

“Max…”

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