Page 104 of Strangers She Knows

Kellen wrapped her free hand around the angel’s and counted, “One. Two. Three.”

They yanked.

The needle stuck, then released so suddenly Old Angel staggered back.

Kellen groaned in pain and relief.

Luna barked.

They all stilled, fearing Mara’s knock at the door.

Old Angel sighed. “I don’t think she heard us.”

“She’s afraid of dogs,” Kellen told her.

“Is she?” Old Angel sounded satisfied, and not quite so angelic now.

Kellen lifted her hand from the dresser. Blood smeared the surface from the hole in her palm. Dark purple bruising radiated out toward her swollen fingers. “First aid. In the bathroom.”

“I was afraid you’d be hurt, so I brought my own first aid kit.” Old Angel made her slow way back to the door. “It’s very extensive. It has to be, you know, out here.”

Out here.Did she mean on the island? Or where she lived, between heaven and earth?

“Come, Luna, help me,” Old Angel said.

Luna left Kellen’s side and returned dragging a small suitcase with her teeth.

Old Angel followed, holding a basket. She gave Luna a chin scratch and a word of praise, picked up the suitcase and placed it on the dresser. The basket she lowered in small increments onto the floor. She rummaged inside, brought out a second thermos and opened it. “Soup,” she told Kellen, and handed her a spoon. “Drink it while it’s hot.”

Kellen recognized the soup; Olympia’s chicken and wild rice. It smelled divine and the taste…thyme, garlic, carrots, celery, all fresh from Jamie’s garden, and a free-range chicken Jamie had raised. Maybe Jamie wished extra nourishment into her husbandry so Kellen could take revenge on her murderer.

When Kellen looked up, the soup was gone, the accompanying bread was gone, and Old Angel had the contents of her first aid kit organized and waiting.

“This will hurt,” Old Angel warned.

She was right, of course. Kellen writhed as Old Angel cleaned and bandaged the wound in her hand, but when she was done, for the first time tonight, Kellen felt hope that she might survive.

“I have antibiotics.” Old Angel rummaged among her bottles. “Are you allergic to anything?”

Kellen shook her head.

“Penicillin then. I remember when it came out.” Old Angel trembled as she shook out two white pills. “A miracle drug.”

Kellen took them with more water, then placed her right hand on the dresser and braced herself, prepared to rise.

Old Angel read her mind. “I’m sure you need to use the facilities. I’m not very steady on my own, but between Luna and me, we can get you there.”

They guided Kellen across the bedroom and into the bathroom, and stepped out to allow her privacy.

The toilet. The hair brush. The mirror and—Kellen shrieked.

Old Angel opened the door at once. “Have you fallen?”

“Look at me!” Kellen shuddered. “I have to shower.”

She knew how bad she must smell and look when Old Angel said only, “We need to protect your hand.”

They used the plastic trash bags from under the sink, taped around Kellen’s wrist, and in a half hour Kellen was clean, dressed in her clothes for the following day, and falling into bed. Old Angel tucked her in and smoothed her damp hair off her forehead. “You’re intelligent. You’re strong. You can defeat her. Sleep, and while you sleep, the way will be made clear.”

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