Page 52 of Strangers She Knows

Kellen’s hands stilled on the piano keys. She looked at her daughter, fresh-faced and excited—and taller. Visibly taller. The scabs on her face hadn’t healed yet, and she had a pimple on her nose and one on her forehead. She was growing up too fast—yet she was still a child, all unknowing of the dangers out there lying in wait. Of Mara.

This morning Juan, with his awed and horrified narration of Mara’s heinous crimes, had brought Kellen’s fears surging back. “Where are you going?”

Rae looked startled. “I dunno. Just riding.”

“I don’t think you should ride by yourself.”

“I’m not. I’m going with Luna. Anyway, what difference does it make?” She got a petulant tone in her voice. “There’s no placetogo.”

“You could get hurt.”

“How?”

“You could fall again.”

“Big deal. I’ve fallen before.”

“And it was a big deal!” Maybe Kellen was a little too sharp.

Because Rae was sharp back. “Dad made me promise not to perform jumps unless he’s there.”

“There are cliffs.” Kellen was groping now, fighting panic and the desire to say,There’s a maniac killer out there.

“Do you mean I’m so dumb I’m going to ride my bike off a cliff? Come on.” Rae’s eyes flashed with hurt and anger. “Give me some credit!”

Luna lay back down, put her head on her paws, and watched as if she was following a particularly tense tennis game.

“I don’t mean that. I just mean…” Kellen couldn’t say what she meant. She couldn’t say she was afraid Mara Philippi would come to get Rae. Kellen couldn’t say she felt incompetent, so lousy at piano the dog had to howl, and carrying a load of guilt that her daughter was stuck on this island without friends or family.

What was it that Max had told Juan?Mara’s mostly after my wife.In a twisted, terrible way, this exile was her fault.

“Look. I’ll ride down to the Conkles’ and pick up some more lettuce for dinner. Olympia said she didn’t get quite enough this morning. Is that safe enough?” Rae had her hand on her nonexistent hip.

“I… I guess. But it’s five miles. Luna can’t run that far.”

“No, I suppose not.” Rae knelt beside Luna. “Can you stay here with Mom? I know the music is awful, but she’s halfway done.”

That wasn’t what Kellen intended at all. “Rae, no, don’t—”Please take the dog. She’ll protect you!

But suddenly, Kellen couldn’t speak. Tension froze her throat, her vocal chords.

“Mom?” Rae ran over. “What’s wrong?”

Kellen couldn’t breathe.

“Mom?”

That was the last thing Kellen heard until she opened her eyes. She was stretched out on the living room floor on the antique rug…that had a red stain on the ivory background. She put her hand to her cheek and pulled it away, smeared with blood.

Max knelt beside her. “Kellen? Kellen? What happened?”

“I… I couldn’t breathe. I guess I passed out.” Kellen kept staring at the smear on her palm. “What did I do?”

“You hit the coffee table with your face.” Max helped her sit up. “Thank God, it’s just a little cut. Rae, would you get us a damp towel?”

Rae stomped out of the living room.

“Is this the same as the aphasia?” Max asked Kellen.

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